Ranil speaks up for missing persons in P’ment

Wednesday, 20 August 2014 01:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday demanded that the Government list the “complex legal issues that have arisen during the investigations” conducted by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and Missing Persons.

“In answer to a question asked by me under Standing Order 23(2), Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris stated that the Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and Missing Persons had informed the President that in view of the large numbers of representations that had been made to the Commission, and the complex legal issues that have arisen as a result, that it was necessary to seek legal advice from persons especially knowledgeable in this field,” said Wickremesinghe. “Will those who have made representations to the Commission be informed of the complex legal issues and be given an opportunity to make representations regarding these issues, and will the Attorney-General as the principal Legal Officer of the Government also be informed of these complex legal issues, and be given an opportunity to express his views regarding the issues that have allegedly arisen?” he queried. In response, Prof. Peiris stated that almost 16,000 people came in front of the Commission, and it is required to obtain international expertise on the respective areas highlighted in the statements given. “The Government has a responsibility to obtain such expertise rather than cross examining the Commission. In solving the Tamil issue, the Commission holds the right to recall evidence. We only consider the final report. The Commission itself has the right to choose the parameters used for the investigations. If they request the Attorney-General’s help, the Government could provide that,” said Minister Peiris.