Failure to prevent violence after May 9: Wasantha Karannagoda report tabled in Court

• The petitioners stated that the Board of Inquiry has found that the  conduct of General Shavendra Silva on 31-03-2022 and 09-05-2022 are  highly suspicious and questionable

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The report of the Board of Inquiry prepared by a three-member committee headed by Admiral of Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda to ascertain lapses by the armed forces and state intelligence services during the recent incident of violence was yesterday filed before the Court of Appeal.

President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa appearing for Admiral of Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda filed this report before court when a writ petition filed by 22 government Parliamentarians representing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was called before the Court of Appeal.

Filing a writ petition in Court of Appeal, 22 government Parliamentarians representing SLPP and several others have sought an order directing the authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation in order to ascertain as to whether former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, IGP Chandana Wickramaratne or any other respondents have willfully disobeyed the orders given by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take action to prevent the damages to property and people following the attack on Galle Face protesters on May 9.

Court Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and M.A.R. Marikkar directed the respondent parties to file their objections on May 22. President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena with counsel Rukshan Senadheera appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

The Board of Inquiry report stated that the conduct of former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva during the time period material to the instant application is highly questionable and that he has on several occasions disregarded direct and repeated instructions given to him by the former President, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to protect the private property of the petitioners as well as other Citizen and also the public property of the State.

The petitioners stated that the Board of Inquiry has found that the conduct of General Shavendra Silva on 31-03-2022 and 09-05-2022 are highly suspicious and questionable.

They further alleged that General Shavendra Silva had disregarded repeated instructions from then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Secretary of Defence to take action to prevent the damages to property and people being harmed near Beira Lake at Navam Mawatha in the afternoon and to clear the mob along the Galle Road in front of the Temple Trees in spite of having over 4,500 including five Battalions from the elite Air Mobile Brigade, Special Forces and Commandos stationed in different locations within Colombo city limits.

President’s Counsel Faisz Mustapha with Counsel Faisza Mustapha Markar appeared for General Shavendra Silva.