By Shamindra Ferdinando
The nine-member Public Service Commission (PSC), chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, is in the process of deciding on Attorney General’s Department investigation into the alleged negligence on the part of two of its officers – Deputy Solicitor General Azard Navavi and State Counsel Malik Azeez, in respect of the handling of a file on now proscribed National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim responsible for 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
The PSC consists of Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, Indrani Sugathadasa, V. Shivagnanasothy, Dr. T. R. C. Ruberu, Ahamed Lebbe Mohamed Saleem, Leelasena Liyanagama, Dian Gomes, Dilith Jayaweera and W. H. Piyadasa.
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Shavindra Fernando, PC, who represented Deputy Solicitor General Azard Navavi, on Thursday night, urged the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks to name State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the coordinating officer to the Attorney General, guilty of contempt of the commission.
Fernando made this request expressing his displeasure at the way Jayaratne had responded to his questions. Earlier, the PCoI too had advised Jayaratne to mind the manner in which she responded to Fernando’s questions.
AG Dappula de Livera’s Coordinating Officer, State Counsel, Nishara Jayaratne, was ordered to appear before the PCoI following a request made by Shavindra Fernando, PC, on 15 December 2020. On that day, it was revealed that the Attorney General had recommended disciplinary action against Deputy Solicitor General Azard Navavi and State Counsel Malik Azeez, who had been entrusted with a file on National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim, for lapses o
By Ifham Nizam
A fire that erupted on the ground floor of the Supreme Court complex in Hulftsdorp was doused yesterday evening.
Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare told The Island a pile of plastic roofing sheets had caught fire.
Dabare added that further investigations were being conducted by the Government Analyst’s Department.
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Attorney General Dappula de Livera and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ajith Rohana rushed to the scene along with the personnel of the tri-forces.
AG de Livera, PC at the scene of the fire (pics by Nishan S. Priyantha)
The fire had been caused by a short circuit, officials said. Nine fire engines from the Colombo Municipal fire brigade put out the fire.
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Attorney General has recommended disciplinary action against Deputy Solicitor General, Azard Navavi, and State Counsel Malik Azeez, who were entrusted with the file on National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim, for lapses in handling the case, the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks was informed yesterday.
A three-member committee had also concluded its inquiry, and charge sheets have been sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC,) Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena yesterday told the PCoI. The report had been sent on 27 November 2020 through the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, but there had been no response so far, he said.
Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday ordered that the heads of the consultative firms responsible for the construction of the Kadawatha-Mirigama stretch of the Central Expressway be summoned for an urgent meeting.
The Minister gave this order at a meeting at the ministry over a protracted delay in the construction of the Kadawatha-Mirigama section of the Central Expressway, ministry sources said.
Two top officials attached to the project were also transferred with immediate effect yesterday.
The Minister said that he had severely warned the officials twice but they had failed to sort out the inordinate delay.
When the Minister called for a meeting of the heads of companies which provided consultancy for the phase between Kadawatha and Mirigama, he was informed that they were abroad, and the minister ordered the representatives of those companies to summon them within the next 30 days.