News Today: Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Special Statement

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to issue a special statement tomorrow, addressing concerns over the two committees he appointed to investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks. His statement follows revelations made by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila earlier this week, where Gammanpila disclosed findings related to the role of two senior officers, Shani Abeysekera and Ravi Seneviratne.

According to Gammanpila, Abeysekera and Seneviratne, who have been appointed by the current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to lead a fresh probe into the Easter Sunday attacks, were found responsible for neglecting prior intelligence warnings. These warnings were issued in the days leading up to the tragic attacks that occurred on April 21, 2019, which claimed the lives of hundreds of Sri Lankans.

Gammanpila shared insights from the committee appointed by Wickremesinghe, suggesting that these officers had failed to take appropriate actions despite the intelligence they received. Wickremesinghe’s upcoming statement is expected to address these allegations and clarify the committee’s role in the investigation.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith also raised suspicions over the appointment of the committee, led by retired Judge Ms. Janaki Alwis. He speculated that Wickremesinghe’s committee may have been politically motivated to target Abeysekera and Seneviratne. The public awaits Wickremesinghe’s response, eager to understand the full extent of the committees’ findings and the motivations behind their creation.