The government has assured to investigate all past crimes and initiate legal action against those found responsible, apart from the seven high-profile cases ordered to be expedited.
Addressing the media today, Cabinet Spokesman Vijitha Herath said the government will not refrain from launching investigations into any past crimes.
His comments came in clarification of the Ministry of Public Security’s instruction to the Acting IGP to expedite investigations into seven high-profile cases.
The cases include the Central Bank Bond scam, Easter Sunday terror attacks, kidnapping and murder of journalist D.P. Sivaram, the disappearance of Lalith Kumar and Kugan Muruganandan, the disappearance of Vice Chancellor Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath, murder of Dinesh Schaffter, and shooting incident outside the W15 hotel in Weligama.
Minister Herath said the seven expedited investigations are those where necessary details have been gathered, investigations are complete or only require minimal work to conclude.
The Cabinet Spokesman emphasized that this does not mean the order is only for these seven cases, adding that probes will be conducted into all incidents that were reported in the past, such as economic crimes, murders and disappearances of journalists.
“We will conduct investigations into all crimes and will initiate legal action against those responsible. The seven specific cases selected for now are those that have mostly completed investigations and could be concluded,” he said.
Investigations into other high-profile cases
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that investigations will be conducted into the deaths of the late Ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, the late journalist Lasantha Wickremetunge, and the disappearance of the late cartoonist Pradeep Ekneligoda.
Commenting on the Ekneligoda case, the minister said investigations have been completed and a court case is underway in this regard. “We do not need to launch a fresh investigation. But if required, we can do so,” he added.
Investigations into the 2019 Easter attacks
Minister Vijitha Herath said that proper systematic investigations have already been launched into the Easter attacks.
“We as the government promise we will not allow any injustice to take place during the ongoing investigations. We will not help safeguard any person. Action will be taken through investigations and legal means against all those responsible,” he assured.
The Cabinet Spokesman added that following the conclusion of the investigations, the government will release to the public a complete report on the inquiries and the necessary action to be initiated against those found responsible. (Newswire)