Ex-PM often left during National Security Council meetings – Ruwan tells PCoI

Ex-PM often left during National Security Council meetings – Ruwan tells PCoI

September 25, 2020   11:51 pm

Former State Minister of Defence, Deputy UNP Leader Ruwan Wijewardene testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Easter Sunday terror attacks on Thursday (24).

The panel asked the witness whether former President Maithripala Sirisena had told former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara not to conduct open investigations into Islamic extremism, to which he responded in the affirmative.

He added that the former President assigned former Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS), Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena to lead the probes.

The panel then asked the witness if the former President, when he went abroad, had appointed him as the Acting Defence Minister back then.

The former State Minister of Defence responded that prior to the Easter Sunday terror attacks, he was assigned the Acting Defence Minister position only once. “The other two to three occasions where I was appointed as the Acting Defence Minister was after the Easter Sunday attacks. However, he never did inform in advance of his foreign visits. He would notify via fax, but only after several days of departure. By the time we receive the relevant credentials with regard to the appointment, he is already back in the country.”

The chairman of the PCoI inquired the witness whether former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had often excused himself during National Security Council meetings, as claimed by many other witnesses and Wijewardene responded in the affirmative.

He also revealed that former President Maithripala Sirisena had instructed the commanders of the Tri-forces not to meet with the former Prime Minister if they are summoned in his absence.

Disclaimer: All the comments will be moderated by the AD editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or slanderous. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them(mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.

Most Viewed Video Stories

True measure of nation's progress lies in spiritual development of it's people - President (English)

True measure of nation's progress lies in spiritual development of it's people - President (English)

Millers offered loans at 7% interest rate to purchase paddy in Yala season (English)

Parties continue to tussle over forming LG bodies (English)

Several senior police officers transferred and assigned to new positions (English)

🔴LIVE | Ada Derana Prime Time News Bulletin - 2025.06.30

LIVE🔴Ada Derana Lunch Time News Bulletin 12.00 pm

Committee appointed to oversee recent fishing vessel capsizing incidents – Deputy Minister (English)

Vehicles worth Rs. 30 mln belonging powerful politician's associate seized in Bandaragama (English)