Government spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa accused the opposition of attempting to conceal the real perpetrators of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, similar to what he alleged was done by the Rajapaksa administration.
Addressing reporters, Jayatissa commented on the no-confidence motion against Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Aruna Jayasekara. Jayasekara’s role in government is being challenged by the opposition, due to his tenure as Security Forces Eastern Province commander in the lead-up to the attacks, a period that remains under investigation.
In response to a question on whether the government would treat Jayasekara’s case the same as other officials under investigation — including Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former SIS chief Nilantha Jayawardena — Jayatissa said the government would not act according to the opposition’s demands.
“We will not fall for these tricks brought about by the opposition from time to time,” he said.
“When investigations were being conducted in a haphazard way, this name was not raised by the Sajith Premadasa faction. Now that we are carrying out investigations properly, to identify not only the mastermind but also those who enabled it politically, they want to link all kinds of incidents to this.”
Jayatissa said the CID is focusing on individuals who failed to act despite having sufficient intelligence before the attacks. He noted that Jayasekara’s name had not been raised during the Parliamentary Investigation Committee hearings or before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
“The reason they are suddenly remembering these names is because the opposition wishes to hide the real mastermind and the real accused,” he said. “We earlier thought only the Rajapaksas wished to do this. Now it’s apparent the opposition does too.”
Jayatissa said the government welcomes the no-confidence motion, adding that it would provide an opportunity to reveal information not previously disclosed during investigations. (Newswire)
