PCoI warns against publishing media statements

COLOMBO (News1st): The presidential commission probing the April 21st attacks has warned against publishing statements refuting remarks made by witnesses during their testimony. In a ruling on Thursday, the commission stressed that media statements must not be published as lawyers are allowed to cross-question witnesses during sittings. A complaint was filed this week against former president Maithripala Sirisena's media statement refuting remarks made by former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando. Incidentally, this was days after the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had issued a statement refuting evidence given by former minister Harin Fernando at the commission recently. In its ruling, the commission warned former president Maithripala Sirisena, his private secretary Samira de Silva, and three auxiliary bishops who issued the statement on behalf of the Cardinal to avoid publishing such statements in future. The commission added that any activity deemed to be in contempt of any court, tribunal, or institution, can be punishable by the court of appeal under Article 105 (3) of the constitution. The former president's private secretary Samira de Silva and auxiliary bishop Maxwell Silva were present at the time of issuing the ruling.