Former IGP kept away from NSC meetings due to his conduct

Fmr.President testifies before PCol probing Easter Sunday attacks

By Yoshitha Perera   

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara was not invited to the National Security Council (NSC) meetings due to several allegations raised against his behaviour and revealing facts discussed at the NSC, former President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday (14) informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.   

Testifying before the Commission former President said that he had discussions with former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in mid 2018 regarding former IGP Jayasundara’s behaviour and the effect that it had in country’s image and the National Security.   “I had not prohibited the IGP attending the NSC meetings, however, we decided not to. When the meetings were held, the IGP was not paying attention to the matters and decisions we discussed at the NSC. He was simply sitting in a corner and only checking his mobile phone. I personally advised him to be more attentive at the meetings,” he said.   Former President said that the former Prime Minister informed him to wait until December, 2018 to take a decision regarding Mr. Jayasundara’s matter.   

“I even had discussions with the former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. However, in December, 2018 we decided not to invite former IGP Jayasundara for the NSC. Except for the IGP, we invited former CID SDIG Ravi Seneviratne for the NSC meeting. He was an efficient official serving in the Police Department,” he said.   

Representative of the Attorney General’s (AG) Department then questioned the witness whether he had promised former IGP Jayasundara that if he took the responsibility for the attack, that he would be offered an Ambassador’s post in a country of his choice.   

Denying the above statement, former President said that he had asked Mr. Jayasundara whether he be given an Ambassador’s post when he danced at the Kandy Esala Perahera and the former IGP was now using that in his evidence before the Commission.