HRC temporarily halts Rathupaswala probe

17 August 2013 03:34 am Views - 3381

Inquiries conducted by the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRC) into the Weliweriya shooting incident have been temporarily halted pending the outcome of a meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and stakeholders to the issue.

HRC Chairman Justice Priyantha Perera told Daily Mirror the Commission was awaiting the outcome of the meeting held earlier this week between President Rajapaksa and other interested parties would be.
He said the HRC would restart inquiries in two weeks if the need arose by summoning all relevant persons including villagers, Buddhist and Catholic clergy and the military.

The Chairman said the Commission had already interviewed villagers, the clergy and journalists and had recorded statements from them.

Free Media Movement Convener Sunil Jayasekera said the HRC had summonedthem for a meeting on Thursday, but were later informed that itcould not be held as the situation had taken a new turn.

Addressing the media yesterday UNP MP Mangala Samarawera said no proper investigation would be held as those who gave orders to shoot civilians in Rathupaswala would be revealed if a genuine inquiry was held. “Those who gave orders to shoot will get caught if a proper inquiry is held and not the armed forces,” Mr. Samaraweea said.(Yohan Perera)