News Today: Opposition files No-Confidence Motion against Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara over Easter attacks investigation concerns.

A joint No-Confidence Motion (NCM) has been officially submitted to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne by the collective Opposition against Deputy Defence Minister Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara. The motion, led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and supported by several other Opposition parties, was initially scheduled to be handed over on Monday, 11th August. However, it was postponed to the following day due to the Speaker’s official visit to Polonnaruwa.

The Opposition’s move comes amid growing concerns regarding Jayasekara’s involvement and potential conflict of interest in the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. At the time of the attacks, he was serving as the Eastern Province Commander of the Security Force.

According to the NCM, Jayasekara’s role during significant incidents linked to the Easter attacks—such as the Vavunathivu police killings and the Sainthamaruthu explosion—warrants closer scrutiny. These incidents are widely considered pivotal in the lead-up to the deadly bombings that claimed over 250 lives.

The motion further alleges that Jayasekara’s current position as Deputy Defence Minister poses a risk to the impartiality of the investigations. The Opposition argues that his authority within the Ministry of Defence could potentially influence witnesses, investigators, or subordinate officers involved in the probes, thereby undermining public trust in the process.

The NCM asserts that it is both unethical and inappropriate for Jayasekara to be involved in ministerial decision-making connected to the ongoing investigations, given his prior command role in the Eastern Province. Opposition members contend that as long as he remains in office, neither public confidence nor institutional credibility can be fully restored.

The motion concludes with a call for Parliament to remove Aruna Jayasekara from his post, stressing that transparency and accountability must remain the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s justice process in matters of national security.