Appoint a commission to investigate into the killings of 37 members of Sri Lanka Parliament

Pressure is mounting on the Government of Sri Lanka to appoint a commission to investigate into the killings of 37 elected members of Parliament of Sri Lanka, starting from the murder of Alfred Duraiyappah on 27 July 1975, up to that of the slaying of Minister Jeayaraj Fernandopulle on 06 April 2008, in a bomb blast in Welliweriya.

Alfred Duaraiyappah, who was a Member of Sri Lanka Parliament and Mayor of Jaffna was the first MP to be killed by the suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Though the case regarding the killing of Alfred Duraiyappah was taken up for hearing and judgment was delivered, it is suspected that the actual killer was not brought before any court of law in Sri Lanka.

In fact, V.Prabakaran, the leader of the LTTE, proudly claimed that he was the one who killed Alfred Duraiyappah, and he remains at large.

Unfortunately up to now, there is no way either to confirm or dismiss the claim of the Tiger leader about the killing of Alfred Duaraiyappah.

Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella said that he intends to take up this issue with the Government of Sri Lanka for the setting up of a Presidential Investigative Commission to go into the killings of 37 former Members of Parliament who represented the people of this country one time or more in their life time.

Asian Tribune contacted, Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotions and Welfare & Government Spokesman for Defense and National Security, regarding the move for the investigation on the massacre of 401 unarmed Police Officers on 11 June 19990.

Earlier, The Government officially announced on 13th June 2008 that investigations will be conducted into the massacre of 401 police officers on 11-06-1990 in Amparai, Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas on the request made by the affected families.

Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella said that the killing of 401 police officers … such a mass murder has gone without any investigation. Time to time this issue has been brought up, but so far no action has been taken. Many NGO organizations and r human rights groups are talking about this massacre. But I will say it is the obligation of the Government in fairness to the Police Department, I think this issue has to be investigated.