The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has distanced itself from any involvement in an alleged attempt to misuse the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks to secure a service extension for the incumbent Attorney General, President’s Counsel Sanjay Rajaratnam.
In a statement, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) addressed news articles published in the first week of June 2024 regarding a purported statement by the President about an extension granted to the current Attorney General’s term.
The articles mention an unfounded incident where the Chairman of the CBCSL allegedly met with the President, during which the President reportedly appointed a three-member committee, the statement said.
This committee supposedly included the Secretary to the President, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, Mr. Sagala Rathnayake, and the Attorney General, Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam, to discuss the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report on the Easter Sunday attacks, the CBCSL said.
The CBCSL denied these claims, stating there has been no such dialogue with the Attorney General, Sanjay Rajaratnam.
The articles also falsely assert that Mr. Rajaratnam is coordinating with the CBCSL and that his term is being extended by exploiting the Easter Sunday attacks, the CBSL said.
The CBCSL clarifies that Mr. Rajaratnam, appointed as Attorney General in May 2021, has not implemented the recommended actions from the inquiry over the past 36 months, the statement added.
The Morning newspaper quoting a Constitutional Council member reported that the Council has received a recommendation from the President to grant a six months service extension to Rajaratnam PC.
A decision whether to approve the extension has not been made yet, the Morning reported. (Newswire)
