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Mystery committee remains a mystery
The members of the 'Independent Committee' which is reported to have selected the nominees to be appointed as President's Counsel are yet to be disclosed.

Presidential spokesperson Harim Peiris again told The Sunday Times on Friday he was not aware of the committee members who sat to decide upon the eight new PCs appointed last week or the guidelines used.

The news release sent by the Presidential Secretariat on May 21 said the new appointments were made according to guidelines formulated by a committee of Senior Legal persons.

But, the release did not say who the members of the committee were. This was the first time that it has been announced that selections have been made for appointments by an independent committee.

Earlier Presidential Secretary W. J. S. Karunaratne said a team of high powered legal personalities such as H. L. de Silva was at the helm of the committee which according to Mr. Karunaratne was headed by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

However Mr. de Silva told the Sunday Times last week he "never heard of any committee that sat to make the appointments" adding that as far as he knew the selections were done by the President. Mr. Kadirgamar declined comment adding to the confusion.

The Presidential spokesperson when queried about the manner in which the committee made its decision and its modalities said he was not aware of the matter beyond what was mentioned in the press statement. The press statement claimed that the appointments were made by President Kumaratunga in terms of the power vested in her by article 33 (cc) of the constitution.

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