People of this country have gone through a traumatic nightmare and have vanquished the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world. Time has come to consolidate this victory through reconciliation, stated Chairman of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, Mr. C. R. de Silva at the first Public Sitting of the Commission.
The first Public Sitting was held this morning (11 August) at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies.
We have sailed through rocks of communal disharmony and mistrust in this country known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean and now we have to move to peace and tranquility, he further stated.
Mr. de Silva also said that the primary task of the Commission is to identify the root causes of the failure of the Cease Fire Agreement in 2002 and identify any person/persons or groups responsible for its breakdown.
The Commission will formulate proposals for peace and reconciliation so that such a situation does not occur in the future.
Referring to the Public Sittings due in Vavuniya, he stated that people are the primary concern of the deliberations of the Commission and the Public Sitting allows people in the conflict affected areas to air their grievances, and past and present problems.
The Commission is also inviting representations from a wide spectrum of people who can facilitate their knowledge.
The Chairman of the Commission also stressed that the Commissioners are conscious of their responsibility and will discharge their duties to the best of their abilities and conscience.
Mr. Bernard Goonetilleke, former Director General of Foreign Affairs made representations at this Sitting. He was the former Ambassador to the United States and Permanent representative to the UN, also attached to several sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. He was the first Secretary General of the Government Peace Secretariat.
The Commissioners, Dr. Amrith Rohan Perera, Prof. Karunaratna Hangawatta, Mr. Chandirapal Chanmugam, Mr. H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, Mrs. Manohari Ramanathan and Mr. Maxwell Paranagama were also present at today’s Public Sitting.
Public Sittings to hear representations will continue in Colombo on the following dates and times;
12th August at 9.30 am and 11.30 am; 13th August at 9.30 am and 11.30 am;17th August at 9.30 am, 11.30 am and 2pm; 18th August at 2pm and 3pm; 23rd August at 9.30 am and 11.30 am; 25th August at 2pm and 3.30pm.
The Commission will also hold public sittings in Vavuniya on 14th - 15th August.
Following is the text of the Warrant issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa :
WHEREAS I am of the opinion that an opportune moment has arrived to reflect on the conflict phase and the sufferings the country has gone through as a whole and having regard to the common aspirations of all we have collectively resolved that our people are assured an era of peace, harmony and prosperity;
WHEREAS It has become necessary that while we as an independent and proud nation of multi-ethnic polity undertake a journey of common goals in a spirit of co-operation, partnership and friendship we also learn from this recent history lessons that would ensure that there will be no recurrence of any internecine conflict in the future;
WHEREAS I am of the opinion that it is in the interest of public welfare, to appoint a Commission of Inquiry for the purposes hereinafter mentioned;
NOW THEREFORE I, Mahinda Rajapaksa, President, reposing great trust and confidence in your prudence, ability, independence and fidelity, do, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2 of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Chapter 393), by these presents, appoint you, the said;
1. Chitta Ranjan de Silva Esquire, PC
2. Dr. Amrith Rohan Perera Esquire, PC
3. Prof. Mohamed Thahir Mohamed Jiffry Esquire
4. Prof. Karunaratna Hangawatta Eq
5. Chandirapal Chanmugam Esq
6. Hewa Mathara Gamage Siripala Palihakkara Esq
7. Mrs. Manohari Ramanathan
8. Maxwell Parakrama Paranagama Esq
To be my Commissioners, to inquire and report on the following matters that may have taken place during the period between 21st February 2002 and 19th May 2009, namely;
i. the facts and circumstances which led to the failure of the ceasefire agreement operationalized on 21st February 2002 and the sequence of events that followed thereafter up to the 19th of May 2009;
ii. whether any person, group, or institution directly or indirectly bear responsibility in this regard;
iii. the lessons we would learn from those events and their attendant concerns, in order to ensure that there will be no recurrence;
iv. the methodology whereby restitution to any person affected by those events or their dependents or to heirs, can be effected;
v. the institutional administrative and legislative measures which need to be taken in order to prevent any recurrence of such concerns in the future, and to promote further national unity and reconciliation among all communities, and to make any such other recommendations with reference to any of the matters that have been inquired into under the terms of this Warrant
AND I do hereby appoint you the said Chittaranjan de Silva Esq, President’s Counsel and retired Attorney General to be the Chairman of the said Commission;
AND I do hereby authorize and empower you the said Commissioners, to hold all such inquiries and to make all such investigations into the aforesaid matters as may appear to you to be necessary, and require you to transmit to me within six months of the date hereof, a report thereon under your hand, setting of the finding of requires and your recommendations relating thereto;
And I do hereby direct that such part of any inquiry relating to the aforesaid matters as you may in your discretion determine, shall not be held in public,
And I do hereby require and direct all Public Officers and other persons to whom you may apply for such assistance or information for the purpose of your inquiries or investigations, to render all such assistance and furnish all such information as may be properly rendered and furnished in that behalf;
And I do hereby declare that the provisions of Section 14 of the Commissions Inquiry Act (Chapter 393) shall apply to the Commission;
GIVEN at Colombo, under the seal of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, this 15th day of May two thousand and ten.
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