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The Radical Centre, an apolitical movement launched by the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera has demanded the government find the perpetrators of the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday attacks instead of persecuting investigators who have taken part in the investigations related to terror attacks.

Issuing a press release today (25), they urged the Government to cease the persecution of Shani Abeysekera and for the relevant authorities to direct their resources into apprehending the real conspirators of the Easter Sunday attack.

Shani Abeysekara, a former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has sought an interim injunction restraining any attempt to arrest or detain him under a Detention Order in connection with a B report filed in the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on charges including failure to properly investigate Mohamed Qasim Mohamed Saharan Hashim, who led the Easter Sunday terror attack on 21 April 2019.

Accordingly, the former CID chief filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) application with the Supreme Court on Friday (18) seeking an order to prevent his arrest

According to Abeysekera, members of the intelligence services were aware of the imminent threat and failed to assist the CID in their investigations into Zahran Hashim and his associates in the lead up to the deadly terror attacks.

Despite a lapse of three years since the attack on that fateful Easter Sunday, victims and their loved ones are yet to witness a fair investigation into the incident, Radical Centre said, pointing out that reasonable suspicion on the attack and ensuing events has now arisen among the public.

Stressing that politicians are not the owners of this country but merely her trustees, they noted that the persecution of a diligent state official is a violation of that sacred trust.

The statement further said:

"In this background, for nearly three years, the victims of the Easter Sunday attack continue to call out for justice they rightly deserve, not only for themselves, but for their families and loved ones while remaining hopeful that it will be delivered in due course.

However, due to the recent actions of the current Rajapaksa Government, it is doubtful there is any intention on the part of the authorities to ensure that justice is served for the pain and suffering endured by the victims of the terrorist attack.

This is due to the inexcusable delay in bringing to justice or exposing to the public the real culprits of the Easter attack and the terrorists who either directly or indirectly aided and abetted it.

Meanwhile, it also must be noted that there is no reasonable evidence to suggest that the Government's continued failures on the issue of justice for victims of the Easter attack and instead its interest in arresting and/or imprisoning law enforcement officers and investigators who carried out the investigations to uncover those responsible for the Easter attack is not a self-serving political decision.

Therefore, the persecution of investigators that were in search of the perpetrators instead of delivering justice to the victims is a far greater act of terror than the Easter Sunday attack itself. As such, we urge the authorities to immediately put an end to these politically motivated witch hunts.

Stop the witch hunt against Shani Abeysekara!

Shani Abeysekara was a state employee who did his job by the book, according to the information available to us.

However, Shani was more than that: he was an excellent investigator who produced results from challenging cases that he was assigned. He did his duty under different governments and under different superior officers.

The Leader of the Opposition has also stated that given the Government’s programme targeting a former CID official, a doubt arises as to whether the Government is trying to "kill him naturally, in a planned manner.”

This is a very serious and dangerous situation. He does not deserve to be imprisoned; subjected to vindictive prison transfers; denied proper medical treatment. He should not have to fear for his life but has moved the Supreme Court for protection.

A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition, filed last week by Shani Abeysekara, has alleged that State and MIlitary intelligence agencies had diverted investigations into the suspects who were linked to the Easter Sunday attacks.

Meanwhile, the Government has buckled under pressure and made public the entirety of the report of the Presidential Commission on the Easter attack. The full record will show that Shani Abeysekara was the best officer on the job, who would have produced even better results if not for documented obstructions.

Those who obstructed his investigations are the ones who should be held accountable under the normal procedures that apply to police officers and the military.

If Shani Abeysekara’s persecution continues, it is a powerful signal to all law-abiding officers of the state. If by this persecution, the government succeeds in browbeating and making all Government servants servile, that would mean that Sri Lanka would cease to be a country with the rule of law; it would mean that we will all be made servile and dependent on the favors and permissions of powerful politicians.

That is why it is in our interest to stand with Shani Abeysekera at this critical moment.

Politicians are not the owners of this country; they are merely the trustees. By persecuting a diligent state official, they are violating that sacred trust. They are desecrating our inheritance.

We demand they stop. We demand that the persecution of Shani Abeysekera cease and for the authorities to direct their resources into apprehending the real conspirators of the Easter Sunday attack.

Jayani Abeysekara (Convenor), Harendran Krishnasamy, Keshal Jayasinghe, C.S. Kodikara and Firo Farook had issued the statement today on behalf of 'Radical Centre'.

Arrangements have been made to change the power cut schedule to minimize the inconvenience caused to those who are sitting for the GCE Advanced Level exam, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene informed Parliament today.

He said a discussion has been held with the Commissioner of Examinations in this regard on Tuesday night.

Gunawardene responding to a question raised by Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the House. Mr. Wickremesinghe said one could file legal action against the power cuts. " It is better to make a change in the method of interrupting of power," he said.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Harin Fernando states that he is ready for any inquiry into the incident that took place in Parliament. He was addressing Parliament today.

Harin Fernando was accused in Parliament yesterday of bringing a suspicious parcel into Parliament and obstructing the duties of the protesting police officers.

At the commencement of parliamentary sittings today, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya stated that the IGP has been instructed to conduct a speedy investigation into the incident.

Making a special statement with the permission of the Speaker, Fernando stated that he had brought only his bag and a torch to Parliament. He added that his bag was checked by a searching machine and it was confirmed that there was nothing dangerous in it.

Fernando points out that he did not interfere in the affairs of the police in any way and says that he is ready to face any investigation in this regard.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has announced a power cut schedule for Wednesday (23).

Groups A, B, and C will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 40 minutes.

All other groups will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Find out what time your local area will experience a power cut following the tables below:

Power Interruption Schedule (23-02-2022)

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is scheduled to leave for India today (25) on an official visit.

According to the agreements reached during his previous visit to India, further concessions on the US $ 1 billion loan to be provided by India to Sri Lanka will be taken up during his visit.

All the volumes of reports by a presidential commission of inquiry into Easter Sunday terror attacks and related witness records have been submitted to Parliament.

The complete 88-volume report was handed over to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena by the director-general of legal affairs of the Presidential Secretariat, Harigupta Rohanadeera this morning (22).

The PCoI’s final report was handed over to Parliament on 08 April, 2021 but the witness records were not released due to legal reasons.

According to the President’s Media Division, the findings should be communicated to the public and for further perusal by the Members of Parliament.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has extended an invitation to the constituent parties of the ruling coalition, it is learnt.

Accordingly, the former President will host the leaders of the constituent parties including Minister Wimal Weerawansa for tea at his official residence this evening (23).

SLFP sources meanwhile said that today's discussion may focus on the special proposal prepared by the constituent parties outlining measures that need to be taken to build the country.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka on Monday (21) announced that 2-hour power cuts will be imposed on Tuesday (22).

The power cuts will be between 4:30 PM & 10:30 PM from groups A, B, C, and 3 hours for other groups, said the Chairman of the PUCSL.

Power-Interruption-Schedule-22-02-2022

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for rotational load shedding tomorrow (Feb. 25).

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake stated that interruptions to the electricity supply of 04 hours and 40 minutes will be imposed in the areas mentioned under groups A, B, and C in the power interruptions schedule (see schedule attached below).

In the meantime, power cuts of 05 hours and 15 minutes will be imposed in the other areas.

As per the schedule, power cuts of 4 hours and 40 minutes are imposed between 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. in groups A, B and C. It is divided into two slots as 02 hours and 40 minutes in the morning and 02 hours in the night.

Meanwhile, for the other groups, the power cuts of 05 hours and 15 minutes are imposed between 8.30 a.m. and 11.45 p.m. This is split into two slots as 02 hours and 45 minutes in the morning, and 02 and 30 minutes in the night.

Sri Lanka’s coronavirus death toll topped 16,000 as the Director General of Health Services confirmed another 30 Covid-19 related deaths for February 20.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 deaths registered in the country since the start of the pandemic to 16,024 thus far.

The deaths reported today include 20 males and 10 females while 06 of the victims are between the ages 30-59 years. The remaining 24 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara has passed away today.

The veteran journalist had passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Padmakumara who was the former chairman of Lake House was 71-years-old at the time of his demise.

He was renowned for introducing the discussion of newspapers on live television.

Meanwhile, Senior Newspaper Journalist Sunil Madhava Premathilaka passed away yesterday (23).

Premathilaka was a journalist as well as an author who revolutionized the traditional journalism of the country.

One of his most popular works was the Diary of a Truth-Seeker, while he was recently awarded the ‘Kalabhushana’ State Award.

Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has once again expressed his disappointment at the government’s failure to ensure justice for the Easter Sunday attack victims.

Addressing a book launch on Saturday (Feb. 19), the cardinal stressed that it is obvious the government is concealing the truth behind the attack, while protecting higher-ups in the police and the government.

He added that the Catholic community has now lost the trust placed in the government as well.

“Intelligence officials and top-ranking police officers knew that this attack would happen. We have evidence to that end, and it is there in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI).”

The government and the Attorney General’s Department have hidden the evidence given before the PCoI, the Cardinal alleged.

“We have requested those volumes in writing and we have asked them to make us aware. But this government and the previous government have taken steps to conceal those volumes from us, without considering out requests. We are faced with a question on revealing the truth about these people, based on the basis of the PCoI report.”

When the PCoI report clearly says that certain persons knew of an impending attack and did not take action to prevent it, while recommending action against them, what is happening now is the Attorney General and his department’s questionable behaviour is preventing justice, the Cardinal said further, expressing deep disappointment in this regard.

He also said this government has not fulfilled any of the promises given to the people.

“Cases have been filed against those who have had indirect dealings with Zahran Hashim, however, we do not know whether those are done properly.”

The Cardinal went on to state that this government has made a mockery out of the judicial process by protecting and granting promotions to government leaders, senior intelligence and police officials who knew that this attack would happen.

“We need to believe that justice will prevail under a government that will come to power in the future when we are gone.”

Derana