The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Member, for raising a valid and pertinent question. I also personally visited the site. By the time this matter is called again on 09 February, I assure you Rs. 2,850,000 will reach the High Court of the area and then be sent to the Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate’s Court.

¶ 02 Let me explain the delay. For such excavations, Judicial Medical Officers and scientists determine the excavation phase and submit a budget to the Magistrate, who then requests funds for, say, seven days. If further stages are needed, more funds will be granted; that is not a problem. With court vacations and Cyclone Ditwah, some processes were not completed. My Ministry requested further observations to clarify and justify certain rates—since they are not market rates and must withstand audit. Those clarifications were received only in January. After receiving them, funds have now been released. This only happens at the first stage—like in Chemmani. Second and third tranches will not take time as the budget has already been submitted. I apologize to the people of the area and the victims’ families for the administrative delay. Funds will be available on 09 February.

¶ 03 Nothing happened from 2014 until our Government came in. I am taking personal interest in excavations. If there is any other issue, please contact me; I prefer such communication to address details quickly.

¶ 04 Additionally, I have ordered that excavations and DNA analysis proceed simultaneously to avoid delays. After investigations, the required religious rites will be performed.