(UTV | COLOMBO) – The Attorney General (AG) has informed the President of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that his officers cannot participate in the Presidential Commission on Political Victimisation.
Coordinating officer to Attorney General, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told the news media that, the Attorney General in a letter to the PCoI has objected to summons being issued on Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara to appear before the PCoI today (23).
Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara was named as a respondent in the complaint lodged by Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Yapa Senadhipathi with PCOI against Avant Garde High Seas Arms Trafficking case.
Accordingly, the AG raised these objections in terms of Section 16 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act and stated that PCoi is not empowered to review any decision of the AG and it is also contrary to the law to issue summons to his officers to appear before the PCoI.
In his letter, the AG said that the PCoi was appointed to look into alleged political victimization of public officers, employees of state corporations, members of armed forces and police. AG further said that Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Yapa Senadhipathi who filed a complaint has no legal standing.