Former President Maithripala Sirisena, his personal secretary Sameera Silva and three auxiliary bishops in Colombo have been strongly warned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday terror attacks not to refute the statements of the commission's witnesses.

Sirisena issued a media statement denying evidence given by former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando before the Commission.

However, the former President has been granted permission to attend the sittings of the PCOI as an observer.