The Secretary to the Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms has informed us that our Aug. 16 report (Proceedings only in Sinhala insists chairman) contains "several inaccuracies and misrepresentation of facts."

We carry his letter without comments as our reporter has been unwell and unable to contact his sources. The following is the text of the letter.

The factual position with regard to some of the matters stated in the report is as follows:

The Chairman of the Commission, did at no stage insist that the proceedings be "in Sinhala Only", as stated by your correspondent. It would be a total falsehood to state that he made such a stipulation at any stage of the hearings.

The Commission has so far conducted its hearings in Sinhala and English, whichever language is chosen by the witness concerned. Arrangements have also been made to hear evidence in Tamil from witnesses who wish to give evidence in Tamil.

Your report states that at the first Public Sittings, Dr. Abey-wardena the Chairman "asked him (Mr. Pussedeniya) to speak in Sinhala although previous proceedings had been in English." The Chairman did not at any stage direct Mr. Pussedeniya to speak in Sinhala. There was no question of "previous proceedings being in English" as this was the first witness at the very first Public Sittings.

Your correspondent's descriptions of Mr. R. Abeyratne as a "former Commissioner of Local Govt." and Dr. Abeywardena as a "former Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs" are both factually inaccurate and could also point to the suggestion that Mr. Abeyratne's experience is in Local Govt. while Dr. Abeywardena's is in Cultural Affairs. This is far from the truth. It is well known that Dr. Abeywardena has served in the field of Local Govt. for over 25 years, as Asst. Commissioner of Local Govt. Director Local Government Service, Addl. Secretary of the Ministry of Local Govt. Housing and Construction and Senior Consultant in local Administration at the Postgraduate Institute of Management of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in addition to other competencies gained in the relevant fields. He is also author of several books and publications on Local Govt.

Mr. Selvakkumaran did not "withdraw from the first Public Sitting of the Commission" as stated by your correspondent. Since all Commission Members continue to function in their substantive positions as Senior University Academics and a senior Public Official, one cannot expect their continuous presence throughout all Sittings of the Commission. Despite this, Commission Members participate in the Sittings on a regular basis, subject to being away at times to attend to important and urgent duties in their substantive positions. Mr. Selvakkumaran himself was due to leave the island on a foreign tour (not connected with Commission affairs) soon after commencement of Public Sittings and we understand that he had left on this tour.

Your article refers to the fact that no interpreter was provided for Mr. Selvakkumaran on the day in question. It would be a gross under-estimation of Mr. Selvakkumaran's level of comprehension of spoken Sinhala and English to say that he needed an interpreter. He did comprehend the discussion in Sinhala as well as English, as evinced by the questions he posed to the witness.

However, when Mr. Selvakkumaran genuinely required interpretation in his work at the Commission, it was always provided and we continue to do so. For instance English translations of summaries of all Sinhala memoranda received from the public have been prepared for the perusal of Mr. Selvakkumaran in particular.

I shall be grateful if you could publish the above clarifications with similar prominence, in the next issue of your publication.