The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has called for a proper investigation to be carried out based on the facts revealed by the Channel4 program on the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Speaking to reporters in Colombo yesterday (06), he slammed the government’s latest announcement on appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the matters revealed by the program regarding the attacks, while noting that in spite of the fact that from the day of the attacks, even though a parliamentary select Committee and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry as well as other Committees were appointed to investigate these sad events and many recommendations were made by them, there have been no credible and positive action by the political authorities over these recommendations.
” The present and previous Government paid only lip service to such findings,” said His Eminence.
“No tangible and credible results might emerge from yet another such Parliamentary Select Committee if it is only a matter of producing a report,” he added.’
He urged all former and present day officials in the Police and Intelligence as well as Security Services who are aware of other facts that maybe relevant to the case, to come out courageously in order to give witness to facts known to them, relevant to the case.
His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith also expressed the urgent need to execute four matters of great interest:
1) The holding of a free, impartial, just, transparent and broad based investigation into what the Channel 4 Television Network revealed in its programme, the alleged plot behind that tragedy and all facts and a study of the persons mentioned in that programme especially with regard to their role in this mass murder.
And also, investigations should be carried out on the findings outlined in the various commission reports already presented, and the recommendations stated need to be implemented fully.
2) This investigation should take place through an independent international investigation team,
3) That international team should be assisted by all those Sri Lankan officials of the CID whose services were originally sought by the government and who were transferred away from the investigations to other areas and posts by biased political authorities.
4) Since these fresh investigations need to be independent, all those officials who in the police and the intelligence services coming under investigation on this matter and who hold high positions presently should be suspended forthwith. Any such officials named in the Channel 4 programme should move out of their present high positions in order to ensure the independence of the inquiry.
A special operation has been launched by the Bureau for the Investigation of Abuse of Children and Women and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA).
The operation was conducted across multiple police divisions including Colombo North, Colombo South, Colombo Central, Nugegoda, Gampaha, Panadura, Kelaniya, Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Tangalle, Anuradhapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Chilaw, Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara.
According to the police media division, the operation has rescued 21 minors found begging or selling goods in unsafe conditions.
They have been placed under protective care, the statement adds.
The Department of Agrarian Development has issued a notice to landowners with uncultivated land, requesting them to submit reasons for non-cultivation within the next 02 weeks.
Commissioner General – Rohana Rajapaksha highlighted that over 120,000 acres of land, which should have been cultivated, have been abandoned.
All services provided by the President’s Fund to the public will be available through an online system, from today (June 21).
The acceptance of applications for medical assistance under the President’s Fund through Divisional Secretariats island wide commenced on February 07.
Following the successful implementation of that initiative, preparations have now been completed to expand the digital system to include all other services offered by the Fund.
Accordingly, the public will be able to apply online via any Divisional Secretariat across the country for a wide range of services provided under the President’s Fund. These include assistance for poverty alleviation, provision of educational scholarships, recognition of students demonstrating academic excellence, support for individuals with special needs, relief assistance for children affected by wild elephant conflict, recognition of individuals for their national service or contributions to the country, Emergency and disaster relief.
As a result, citizens across Sri Lanka, especially those outside Colombo can conveniently access the services of the President’s Fund without having to travel long distances.
