AG reacts to delay in corona probe: Wants to instruct probe team personally

‘… second wave caused serious threat to people’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Expressing serious concern over the delay in initiating a criminal investigation into the sudden eruption of covid-19 second wave in the first week of Oct, Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, has told Acting IGP C.D. Wickremaratne that he would personally issue instructions to the investigators.

Wickremaratne has been informed of the AG’s unprecedented move on Thursday (5) in the wake of the inordinate delay in the high profile probe.

There hadn’t been a previous instance of AG de Livera or any of his predecessors calling police investigators for a briefing before the commencement of an investigation.

As per instructions issued in writing on Oct 5, President’s Counsel de Livera emphasized that advising the team of police officers chosen by the Acting IGP was his legitimate duty and responsibility.

The AG has told the IGP to submit him a list of officers tasked with the investigation.

The unexpected move made by the AG revealed the lapse on the part of law enforcement authorities in initiating an investigation.

AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told The Island on Nov 5 that the latest intervention was made after specific instructions issued on Oct 29 as regards the launch of an investigation weren’t heeded. Ms Jayaratne said that instructions were issued on Oct 27 and Oct 29 in that regard directing an inquiry into the dangerous situation caused by what the AG called the ‘Brandix cluster.’

Pointing out the catastrophic situation faced by the entire country, the AG directed the appointment of a senior team consisting of experienced investigators to handle the investigation.

Earlier the AG called for a new team after the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) tasked with the investigation was seriously affected by covid-19 epidemic.

The Acting IGP handed over the investigation to the CCD against the backdrop of the country’s premier investigation agency the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) being embroiled in the controversial release of Riyaj Bathiudeen’s held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Acting IGP appointed two teams comprising 30 officers and men each to investigate the circumstances leading to Riyaj’s release in spite of the police headquarters previously claiming the suspect having had direct links with one of the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) suicide bombers. Pending the investigation, police headquarters moved out both DIG CID Nuwan Wedasinghe and Director CID SSP Prasanna de Alwis.

The AG called for a special inquiry on covid-19 eruption while awaiting progress report on the probe on the CID. With the focus on Brandix apparel manufacturing facility at Minuwangoda where the first detection was made, The Island sought clarification from Brandix pertaining two vital matters expected to be also probed by the police.

Q: Did Brandix bring in a group of technicians from India (four or five persons), in addition to 341 Brandix workers and family members brought to Mattala in three flights? 

 A: No, as we have stated before, we did not bring in any person of Indian nationality to Sri Lanka during this time. 341 of our Sri Lankan employees who work at our facilities in Visakhapatnam, India and their families were brought back to Sri Lanka in 03 separate flights, and certificates from authorities confirming their 28-day quarantine period is available for all 341 individuals. These certificates pertaining to all passengers have been produced for verification to the relevant authorities.

 Q: The final flight was scheduled to bring in 60 persons though only 48 arrived in Mattala. Why did 12 people not come back?

 A: In early September, we had requested the necessary approvals from the Government to bring back 60 of our Sri Lankan employees and their families from our facility in Visakhapatnam, India.

While we awaited approval and confirmation of the flight for their return thereafter, 12 of our employees had agreed to stay back and continue working since the ground situation in India was improving at the time. As a result, only 48 of the 60 individuals we had originally sought approval for, arrived on the flight on 22nd September 2020. 

Meanwhile, Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana, who is also in charge of the Police Legal Division yesterday told Derana anchor Sanka Amarjith that the investigation called by the AG was delayed due two reasons. DIG Rohana said that in addition to some of the CCD officers contracting coronavirus, the CCD had to record statements of those affected by corona attached to Minuwangoda Brandix facility. DIG Rohana said that the inquiry though being delayed would be conducted by the CCD as directed by the Acting IGP.