House Oversight Committee assures probe

SLA contingent armed with clubs at Uni protest:

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Newly-appointed Chairperson of Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday (13) said that he would certainly discuss with members of his committee serious allegations pertaining to the presence of military personnel armed with wooden poles at the scene of confrontations between the police and protesters in Colombo.

MP Weerasekera said that his committee would take up the matter with relevant authorities.

The former Public Security Minister said that he wouldn’t find fault with anyone before inquiring into the allegations.

The committee elected MP Weerasekera on March 08 as its head. Responding to The Island queries, MP Weerasekera said that as allegations were quite serious the government couldn’t ignore the urgent requirement to establish the truth.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, the war winning Army Commander is also a member of Weerasekera’s committee which consists of 12 lawmakers. Fonseka represents the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB).

The yahapalana government introduced the Sectoral Oversight Committee system in 2015.

Lawmaker Weerasekera said that his committee could play a significant role in defence matters, such as examination of entry into bilateral and multilateral agreements with foreign governments. The SLN veteran said that controversy surrounds some agreements sought by foreign powers.

Sri Lanka entered into ACSA (Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement) in early August 2017. However, SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) aka VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) is on hold whereas a presidential committee headed by Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan recommended against Sri Lanka entering MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) compact as it could jeopardize the country’s sovereignty.

The former minister said that the threat of terrorism remains, though Sri Lanka brought the war against the LTTE to a successful conclusion in May 2009. Referring to 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, lawmaker Weerasekera said that religious extremism, narcotics and even distribution of state land could cause further deterioration.

The ex-minister said national security couldn’t be sustained without economic stability. “We face the daunting challenge in overcoming the unprecedented political-economical-social crisis,” lawmaker Weerasekera said, pointing out that accusations regarding the deployment of troops armed with wooden poles should be examined against the backdrop of a toxic combination of post-2019 political developments.