Sunday, December 11, 2011

Eknaligoda case: Focus on ex-AG

Chris Kamalendran
The Human Right Commission of Sri Lanka said yesterday it had not yet taken a decision on whether to summon former Attorney General Mohan Peiris to come before it in connection with a complaint made by missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda’s wife.
Sandya Eknaligoda in her complaint has said Mr. Peiris, now a presidential advisor on legal affairs, had told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that the Government had substantial evidence that the missing journalist was living in hiding in a foreign country and had sought asylum there.

She has requested the HRC to summon the former Attorney General and ascertain from him the basis on which he had made the claim that the missing journalist was living abroad. “We are examining the complaint and if necessary we will summon Mr. Peiris to give evidence,” HRC Chairman and former Supreme Court judge Priyantha Perera said.

Ms.Eknaligdoa said yesterday she had sent a letter by registered post and even faxed the complaint to the HRC but had not yet received even an acknowledgment. A Habeas Corpus petition filed by Ms. Ekneligoda also is pending in the Court of Appeal. Mr. Eknaligoda has gone missing since January last year..

ST