Media banned from PSC sessions when active officials testify

Thursday, 20 June 2019 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Officials will not be identified in advance to protect sensitive info, says PSC Head

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

The Parlimentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks has decided to not allow media to be present while witnesses who are on active service are making their submissions.

Deputy Speaker and the Chair of Committees Ananda Kumarasiri, talking to media yesterday in Parliament, held that this decision was based on the particular witness’ proximity to vital information on national security where some parts of the session will be held behind closed doors.

“The Parliamentary Select Committee met on Tuesday and took the decision after reviewing the progress of the previous sessions. In addition, the names and ranks of some servicemen to be summoned will not be made public in advance along with the time and the date they will be summoned for submissions,” he said.

The PSC is scheduled to sit today at 2 p.m. in the parliamentary complex, and has summoned four persons from the Thowheed Jamath organisations, including Ceylon Thowheed Jamath Secretary Abdul Razik, for submissions.