The Communist Party of Sri Lanka, on Monday urged the President and the Government to appoint a ‘Truth Commission’ with appropriate powers to identify and punish those responsible for the acts of violence that have taken place since May 9.
The politburo of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka decided to request that the Commission be duly appointed and its work completed within a month, a release issued by the Communist Party said.
The text of the news release in full:
“The violence unleashed from Temple Trees on May 9, spread to Galle Face, and at the same time the violence in the city of Colombo and its suburbs spread like wildfire. The numbers of the buses transporting people to Temple Trees were published on social media and it appeared that there was an instigation for various individuals being targeted and assaulted.
“Violence unleashed across the country demonstrated savagery, transcending all human boundaries. Homes and other properties were set on fire. Resources in the burned houses were plundered. People were killed. In some places people were crushed to death. Some of those who witnessed the incident say that there were some similarities in the way the incidents took place. It is also said that these events show a uniform organization in different areas.
“The fear and pressure on the social mind, the black mark created in the country as well as the stigma brought to the country internationally by these incidents are very strong.
“The violence that erupted in the country for several days, beginning with the violence unleashed at Temple Trees, must be examined. The root cause of that violence must be exposed, as well as those who carried it out, those responsible, the planners and those who ordered them. The perpetrators must be exposed before the country. The crimes committed by them should be punished accordingly. Only by doing so can such situations be prevented from recurring.
“The Political Bureau of Communist Party of Sri Lanka, which met in Colombo on May 16, decided to ask the President and the Government to appoint a ‘Truth Commission’ with appropriate powers to identify and punish those responsible for all the acts of violence that have taken place since May 9, to achieve the above objectives.
“It was also decided to request that the Commission be duly appointed and its work completed within a month.”
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