Tense debate over PCoI report in Parliament

COLOMBO (News1st): Opposition and government lawmakers were involved in an exchange of words over the report of the commission that probed political victimization on Tuesday. "We saw the list of individuals who were punished by Ranil Wickremesinghe," agriculture minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said during a parliamentary debate. Opposition parliamentarian Harin Fernando insisted that court cases filed in connection to the individuals who have figured in the report, cannot be withdrawn. "Just because a presidential commission was appointed and its report had been approved by the cabinet, can the court cases be cancelled?" Fernando queried. He claimed that at least 200 cases have been filed in court against the individuals who have appeared in the commission's report.