Witness Threats Emerge in Easter Sunday Attacks Case

COLOMBO (News 1st);  Seven years after the Easter Sunday terror attacks, the question of who masterminded the atrocity continues to remain unanswered.

The attacks claimed the lives of 278 innocent people and left nearly 500 others injured.

As proceedings continue before the Fort Magistrate’s Court, a number of long-concealed facts connected to the crime are now coming to light.

Amid these revelations, it has also emerged that several witnesses are currently facing various forms of intimidation.

In an earlier Channel 4 disclosure concerning the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, it was revealed that Pillayan was allegedly behind the attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department recently submitted a report to the Fort Magistrate’s Court, revealing several additional significant facts.

It was reported yesterday that investigation findings show Professor Rohan Gunaratna had met Pillayan on three occasions while Pillayan was detained at the Batticaloa Prison during the period from 2015 to 2021.

Professor Gunaratna and Pillayan had also authored and published books describing the Easter Sunday attacks as an ISIS-led operation, in what was seen as an attempt to project the attacks as carried out by ISIS.

Today, attention is drawn to serious threats now being directed at key witnesses who exposed critical information related to these killings.

The identities of the witnesses are being withheld due to concerns for their safety.

First Incident

The Criminal Investigation Department has now revealed that the murder of two police officers in the Vavunathivu area of Batticaloa, prior to the Easter Sunday attacks, was carried out by the group led by Zahran Hashim.

It has also been uncovered that, during the period of the attacks, investigations and evidence were deliberately misdirected to convince authorities that the murders were committed by former LTTE members.

The CID informed court that a key witness who provided intelligence regarding the murder of the two police officers is now facing threats.

The witness stated that a member of military intelligence had contacted him, offering to speak to a senior intelligence official and arrange facilities for him to leave the country.

The witness further informed investigators that the individual had offered money and other benefits to facilitate this arrangement.

Investigations have revealed that the same military intelligence operative also threatened the witness, warning that he could be implicated in a drug or ‘Ice’ narcotics case.

The witness also told the CID that two individuals from the Kovil Kulam military intelligence camp were following him on a motorcycle.

Second Incident

The CID informed court that another witness who had previously operated as a handler of military intelligence informants is also facing threats.

This witness had disclosed information regarding suspicious behaviour by former State Intelligence Service chief Suresh Salley prior to the Easter Sunday attacks.

On March 12, two individuals arriving on a motorcycle were seen acting suspiciously near the residence of the witness’s wife, checking whether the witness was at home.

One of those individuals was identified as a member of the Negombo sub-unit of military intelligence, and investigators have recorded a statement from him, the CID told court.

Third Incident

A key witness who revealed information about a military intelligence officer and a group allegedly involved in supplying firearms to extremist members of Zahran Hashim’s National Thowheed Jamaath is also facing threats.

The CID reported to court that severe threats have been made against this witness by a police inspector and a sergeant attached to the office of the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in Batticaloa, as well as a sub-inspector assigned to the Batticaloa Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Investigators told court that the witness had been threatened both directly and indirectly with illegal detention and death by shooting.

It has also been revealed that money and goods had been obtained from the witness on several occasions through intimidation, and multiple related complaints have been lodged.

Fourth Incident

The CID also reported that another witness who exposed statements made by a military intelligence officer prior to the Easter Sunday attacks, statements that suggested foreknowledge of an impending attack, is now under threat.

The witness was lured to the Valachchenai, Kavattamunai area through a message sent via a fake Facebook account claiming to provide narcotics-related information and was subsequently assaulted.

According to the CID, the individuals responsible for the assault have been identified by name, and a case in connection with the incident is currently being heard before the Valachchenai Magistrate’s Court.

A statement made by the father of the assaulted witness revealed that a military intelligence operative was involved in the attack.

This witness had also exposed the meetings that took place between Professor Rohan Gunaratna and Pillayan.

When these matters were presented before the Fort Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara stressed that the situation is extremely serious and called for immediate action.

The Magistrate further emphasised that no court orders are required to take such action and that the Attorney General’s Department has the authority to proceed with the necessary steps.