• MP Ranjan Ramanayake was used by those in the previous regime

By Yohan Perera  

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a special committee to study and determine the new legislations proposed by the Presidential Commission which probed Easter Sunday attacks, Chief Opposition Whip Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.   

Speaking during the launch of the ‘Home Shop’ programme which is a concept developed by the Head of Special Task force on Economic Revival and Poverty Reduction Basil Rajapaksa in Kalutara yesterday, Minister Fernando said the committee which looked into the report would not influence the judiciary at any time.  
“The report of the Presidential Commission had recommended bringing in new legislations in the education sector and banning a few institutions. A committee was appointed to study these aspects. It will not engage in influencing judges and the judiciary as a whole. It was those in the previous regime which influenced the judges. MP Ranjan Ramanayake was engaged in such action. He was used by those in the previous regime,” the Minister said.  
“It was Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who advised the catholic MPs to request for the appointment of a Presidential Commission to probe the Easter Sunday attacks. 

This is why Former President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a commission. A select committee was appointed during the last regime. However this select committee comprised members such as Rauff Hakeem who had taken photographs with Zahran. It also comprised a JVP member. A suspect of the Easter Sunday attack Ibrahim was a JVP candidate in the 2015 elections,” he added.