Yoshitha Perera Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) linked to the LTTE assisted the investigations conducted by former CID IP Nishantha Silva, who fled the country last year, former President Maithripala Sirisena informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Testifying before the Commission on Wednesday, the former President said that several Buddhist monks, military and intelligence officers had complained against IP Nishantha Silva’s investigations.

“As the President, I had to decide whether I’m allowing IP Silva to carry out those investigations. Most of the people complained that the investigations led by him were biased,” he said.

The former President made the above statement while responding to a question raised by the representative of the Attorney General’s (AG) department whether the witness had instructed the former IGP to transfer IP Silva at an NSC meeting.

The witness further added that former IGP Jayasundara had sent a letter to the National Police Commission regarding the transfer of IP Silva indicating facts presented at the NSC and it was a serious mistake done by a responsible higher official.

“This was also one of the reasons for not inviting the IGP to NSC meetings,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commission again questioned the witness why he had re-appointed IP Silva to the CID after transferring him to Negombo Police division.

The former President said that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, various other ministers and several NGOs had strongly objected to the transfer of IP Silva to Negombo Police division and he was recalled to the CID due to those issues.