PSC wants more time; still waiting for Prez

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) inquiring into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks has given several dates to President Maithripala Sirisena to testify before the committee on a date that was suited him to do so.

PSC member, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said the President was the only person still to testify at the PSC sessions.“we have given President several dates from which he can select a suitable date to testify at the PSC sittings,” he said.

Mr. Fonseka said the committee might seek an extension in the event the President delays to respond. “In which case we will not be able to present the report on August 23,” he said. Meanwhile, PSC Chairman Ananda Kumarasiri told Daily Mirror they would be compelled to inform Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that they needed more time to present the report to the House.

The PSC had summoned Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, members of Muslim clergy, former governor of the Eastern Province, M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, intelligence officers, Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake, former Defence Secretaries, senior police officers including IGP Pujith Jayasundara, Stfcommandant Senior DIG M.R. Lathif, officials of the Attorney General’s Department and Central Bank officials including CB Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy since it started sittings on May 29 to inquire into the April 21 bomb attacks.