IGP Pujith Jayasundara, currently under interdiction pending Magisterial Court hearing into the Easter Sunday attack, appeared before the Presidential Commission inquiring into the attacks, yesterday for the first time, to give evidence in relation to the Mawanella Buddha statute vandalising incident.
Jayasundara who was the IGP when the bomb attacks took place on April 21 last year, was escorted by police at 10 yesterday morning. Then Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando is also under remand custody.
Jayasundara who left the Commission after about seven hours, gave evidence in relation to the Mawanella incident. He will be summoned again to provide a statement over the Easter Sunday attack.
The commission consisting of five members includes Court of Appeal Justice Janak de Silva as chairman, Court of Appeal Justice Bandula Karunarathne, retired Court of Appeal Judge Nihal Sunil Rajapaksa and retired High Court Judge Bandula Kumara Atapattu and retired Ministry Secretary Ms W.M.M. Adikari.
Two more witnesses of the Mawanella Buddha statute vandalising incident also gave evidence.
Chanaka Jayarathne and Senerath Bandara who are neighbours and residents of Hingula gave clear accounts of an incident where two men had vandalised the shrines at dawn on December 26, 2018.
According to the witnesses’ account of the incident, between 3.30 and 4 a.m. on December 26 they come out of their houses on hearing a loud noise outside and found the shrine in front of their house damaged.
They had initially caught two people, however, one escaped.
The first witness complained to the Commission that despite catching one of the culprits and handing them over to the police no action was taken.
He further said that he later learnt through media reports that one of the wanted persons in connection with the Easter attacks was in fact one of those involved in vandalising the statues.
Former Western Province Governor Azath Sally who was also present at the Commission was given an opportunity to cross examine the witness only in relation to his alleged involvement in the incident.
Prior to allowing the cross examination, the Chairman of the Commission informed Sally that any question that has no direct relevance to the allegation against him, would be struck off. Of the three questions he wanted to ask, only one was allowed.
Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinsena led the team of prosecutors who questioned the witnesses and assisted the Commission.