Attorney at Law Dilshan Jayasuriya appearing on behalf of former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has urged the Presidential Commission probing Easter Sunday Carnage to take legal action against former President Maithripala Sirisena and his Personal Secretary Sameera de Silva over a media release issued on September 20.Addressing the Commission.

Jayasuriya said:

“The media release is malicious and fictitious and    undermines the authority and the respect of the Commission. The press release by the former head of state, who is also a sitting member of the current parliament causes to drive fear into his client as well.

The former President has been given the opportunity to crossexamine Fernando. However, he has issued press releases. People will be afraid to tell the truth openly if powerful people start issuing press releases on judicial matters

It was up to the Commission to decide whether Fernando’s evidence was true or false. By disseminating such an idea, the former President was trying to intimidate the former Defence Secretary who was still testifying before the PCoI. Sirisena, who was a former President, a current Parliamentarian and a party leader, was powerful and thus, there are now concerns about the security of my client.”