Calling intelligence officials: PSC to meet Speaker

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, is said to be in a dilemma after President Maithripala Sirisena vowed not to send intelligence officers presently in service to testify before it.

The committee members are set to meet the Speaker tomorrow morning in order to clarify his stance and how he would like them to take the process forward.

The PSC had expected to call Chief of the State Intelligence Service, Senior DIG, Nilantha Jayawardena to testify in front of the committee following the questioning of several other high-ranking officials.

The officials, including former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Chief of National Intelligence Service, Sisira Mendis, are in a quandary as to whether they would be allowed to do so following the President's order.

Under the Parliamentary Privileges Act, the PSC has the authority to call any official before it and it is empowered to report any official that refuses to come before it to the Supreme Court and thereby institute legal action against such persons, the committee members said.

However, a decision on the matter will be taken only after meeting the Speaker, they said. Meanwhile, intelligence officers also remain perturbed about the situation, unable to decide whether to appear in front of the PSC.

The next session of the PSC is due to take place at 2.00 pm tomorrow. (By Sujith Hewajulige)