Startling revelation at PCoI on April Attacks

Negligence assisted Zahran & group to move around freely; Ex-Police Chief tells PCoI

by Zulfick Farzan 28-09-2020 | 5:52 PM

Colombo (News 1st); The report dated the 09th of April 2019 from State Intelligence Service Director Nilantha Jayawardena about a possible terror attack was forwarded to Senior DIGs in Sri Lanka Police, said Ex-IGP Pujith Jayasundara in his testimony to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the 2019 April 21st Attacks.

It was forwarded to SDIG of Western Province, Nandana Munasinghe, SDIG crimes and STF, M.R. Latif, DIG special protection range, DIG Priyalal Dasanayake, and Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division, Waruna Jayasundara said the Ex-Police Chief adding he spoke to them over the phone.

Jayasundara said that he also phoned all SDIGs in charge of provinces stressing the fact he wanted to ensure there won't be a leak that would have caused problems in the society.

"For example, the letter I sent to the Special Protection Range (SPR) was leaked to the media after the attacks," Jayasundara told the PCoI.

Jayasundara added although he was aware of the activities and preaching of extremists would have an impact on reconciliation, those in higher forums differed in their opinion.

He added although he too had received information about activities of Islamic extremists by late 2018, he had been barred from the National Security Council by then.

"I couldn't share the information I had and I didn't know what was discussed there. I couldn't even place a senior officer to represent me there," he said.

The former Inspector General of Police in his testimony said negligence of Sri Lanka Police had assisted Zahran Hashim and his group to move around freely without getting arrested.

The witness added SIS and the CID have to take equal responsibility for not arresting 'Army Mohideen,' a staunch member of National Thowheed Jamaath.

Commissioners then questioned the witness regarding to use of 'Army Mohideen' as an informant of the CID, while there was an arrest warrant issued against him.

Responding to the query Jayasundara said, the CID could not use a person who was supposed to be arrested, as an informant without executing the particular arrest warrant by taking necessary legal action.

When Commissioners questioned the witness regarding why he had failed to execute the arrest warrants on Zahran and his team members, Jayasundara said as the IGP he could not perform every duty at Sri Lanka Police.

Pujith Jayasundara also added the SIS was out his control and he could not mention any faults regarding intelligence forwarded by them to his office.