Nearly four years after Cabinet approval was first granted on 17 May 2021 to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, the Government has moved to address the lack of progress by approving the appointment of a dedicated oversight committee.

The Cabinet of Ministers has now granted approval to establish a mechanism aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of the COI’s recommendations, along with those of the then Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security.

Despite the initial approval in 2021, authorities have acknowledged that the absence of a systematic, formal, and sustainable monitoring framework has hampered efforts to track progress, leaving no effective means of evaluating implementation.

Against this backdrop, the Government has identified the need for a structured and accountable mechanism, with priority given to public and national security, to ensure that the recommendations are carried out in full.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal submitted by the President, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, to appoint a committee tasked with overseeing the implementation process.

The committee will comprise a counter-terrorism and national security expert, along with representatives from relevant ministries and institutions, and will operate under the supervision of the Presidential Secretariat.

The move is expected to strengthen oversight and address longstanding concerns over delays and gaps in implementing key recommendations stemming from the Easter Sunday probe.