Catholic Church denies role in AG’s term extension

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has firmly denied any involvement in the extension of the Attorney General's term, responding to recent news articles that implicated the Church in the decision.

In a statement issued today, the CBCSL addressed claims circulating in several newspapers and online media during the first week of June 2024. These reports suggested that a meeting between the CBCSL Chairman and the President resulted in the formation of a three-member committee to discuss the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report on the Easter Sunday attacks. This committee purportedly included Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Sagala Rathnayake, and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam.

The articles further alleged that the Attorney General had been actively coordinating with the CBCSL regarding future steps in the Easter Sunday attacks investigation, claims which the CBCSL categorically denies.

"We, the members of the CBCSL, vehemently deny these misleading claims. There has never been any such dialogue between the Chairman of the CBCSL and the Attorney General at any time," the statement read.

The CBCSL expressed astonishment at the suggestion that the President might be using the Easter Sunday attacks and the CBCSL to justify extending the Attorney General's term, who is due to retire shortly. The statement criticized Mr. Rajaratnam's performance, noting his failure over the past 36 months to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks.

"During the tenure of Mr. Rajaratnam, the Catholic Church has consistently written to and called upon the Attorney General to bring justice to the victims of the heinous Easter Sunday attacks," the CBCSL emphasized.

The CBCSL also condemned the President's reported remarks implying that the responsibility for the extension of the Attorney General's term lay with the CBCSL.

"We categorically state that the CBCSL has absolutely nothing to do with the extension of the Attorney General's term. The President's reported intention to seek an extension by exploiting the Easter Sunday attacks and involving the CBCSL is wholly condemned," the statement concluded.

The CBCSL's strong rebuttal aims to clarify its position and distance the Church from any political maneuvers related to the Attorney General's term extension.