By: Isuru Parakrama
October 22, Colombo (LNW): Concerns have arisen regarding the transparency surrounding the dissemination of sensitive reports related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, according to attorney-at-law Manoj Nanayakkara.
Addressing the issue, Nanayakkara emphasised that these documents are not ordinary reports but involve crucial information concerning the lives of the victims affected by the tragedy.
“The integrity of the committee responsible for investigating the Easter Sunday attacks is now being questioned,” Nanayakkara stated, suggesting that the process by which these reports reached figures like Udaya Gammanpila was highly dubious.
Nanayakkara stressed that the pursuit of truth has always been the central aim, dismissing any exploitation of the victims’ suffering. However, he asserted that certain factions are deliberately obstructing the investigation to prevent the truth from emerging.
He went on to highlight that two significant groups appear to be resisting the full uncovering of facts: those directly responsible for orchestrating the attacks and individuals who have gained personal advantages or privileges in the aftermath.
Nanayakkara added, “This government was elected on the promise of exposing the truth behind the Easter Sunday attacks, and we have no intention of allowing this matter to be reduced to an empty policy statement by future governments.”
The debate surrounding the appointment of Shani Abeysekara also featured prominently in Nanayakkara’s remarks. Some have questioned whether Abeysekara’s reappointment was politically motivated.
However, Nanayakkara firmly defended Abeysekara’s credentials, stating, “Shani has never been involved in political activities during his time in office. He is an exceptional officer who has uncovered numerous serious crimes in this country. His imprisonment for ten months, a result of political vendettas, was unjust. His expertise in crime prevention is undeniable, and using his skills should not be questioned.”
Nanayakkara also expressed disappointment with the police administration’s handling of the situation, particularly the performance of Senior Deputy Inspector General Deshabandu Tennakoon.
“When we met with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), we inquired whether Tennakoon’s achievements were as significant as claimed. However, no clear response was provided. We believe that Tennakoon has left the police administration in disarray,” Nanayakkara concluded.
