Presidential Commission of inquiry:

Appeal court Judge to probe Bindunu Wewa Rehabilitation Camp massacre
[12 Mar 2001]

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has appointed Justice P.H.K. Kulatilaka – a judge of the Court of Appeal - as the One-man Commission of Inquiry on the Bindunu Wewa Rehabilitation Camp tragedy on October 25th last year, the Presidential Secretariat announced today.

Twenty Seven inmates were killed and fourteen persons injured when a mob armed with knives and stones stormed the camp and set it on fire.

A fortnight ago, President Kumaratunga presented compensation to dependants of the victims of the Bindunu Wewa rehabilitation camp incident. The Government had earlier decided to pay compensation to the dependants of the victims. She stressed that the compensation paid could not value the lives that were lost in the Bindunu Wewa incident. The Commission of Inquiry comes in the wake of her promise to take necessary measures to prevent such unfortunate situations in the future.

The commission has been given three months to inquire and report on the circumstances which led to the incidents, the administration of the camp, the persons responsible, the criteria for admission to the camp and measures to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

The incident in Bindunu Wewa underscored to need for a lasting peace in Sri Lanka where government forces and the rebel LTTE have been fighting for the past eighteen years.

FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has appointed Hon. Justice P.H.K. Kulatilaka, Judge of the Court of Appeal on 08.03.2001 to function as the One-man Commission of Inquiry on the Bindunu Wewa Rehabilitation Camp tragedy on 25.10.2000.

The Commission of Inquiry has been given a period of three months to inquire and report on the following matters:

1.  The circumstances that led to the incidents that took place at Bindunu Wewa Rehabilitation Camp on 25.10.2000 in the course of which 27 inmates died and fourteen persons were injured.

2.  The administration of the Rehabilitation Camp at Bindunu Wewa and the conduct of public officers in so far as it is relevant to the said incident.

3.  The person or persons, if any, directly or indirectly responsible, by act or omission for:

(i)  bringing about the said incidents;

(ii)  causing injuries to persons, or the death of the inmates.

4.  Criteria applicable to the admission of persons to rehabilitation centres and the location of such centres.

5.  Methods adopted in the rehabilitation of persons admitted to such centres.

6.  The measures necessary to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and the remedial measures if any, to be taken in this regard, and to make such recommendation with reference to any of the matters that have been inquired into under the terms of this Warrant.

On a decision taken by the Government, the President handed over the compensation cheques to the dependants of the victims at a function held at the President’s Office last week. 

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