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Shani claims before PCoI that CID briefed President Sirisena on gravity of threat posed by NTJ

Published

5 years ago

2021/01/28

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former President Maithripala Sirisena had been informed, on 2 February 2019, of extremist activities by National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ), but the latter did not give him an opportunity to discuss the matter at the National Security Council (NSC), former CID Director Shani Abeysekara on Tuesday (26) night informed the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks. The ex-CID Director said that following their investigations on the vandalizing of Buddha statues at Mawanella in 2018 and the detection of explosives at the Wanathawilluwa Jihadist training camp on January 2019, the CID had informed President Sirisena the gravity of the situation and the threat posed by the NTJ to the country’s national security. “On February 2, 2019, during a meeting with former President Maithripala Sirisena at his residence, former CID SDIG Ravi Seneviratne informed Sirisena of the threat posed by NTJ to the country’s national security. Presdent Sirisena informed us that he would give us an opportunity to discuss the matter at the NSC.

However, the CID had never got the opportunity, he added. The Commissioners asked the witness whether President Sirisena had been informed that Zahran Hashim was behind the Mawanella and Wanathawilluwa incidents. Abeysekara said that it was unlikely that Sirisena would focus on one person because he had been informed of the NTJ. He added that the NTJ’s plan was to carry out an attack in May 2020, but that plan changed after the raid of the jihadist camp. The Commissioners also asked the witness about the release of two suspects arrested at the jihadist camp. Abeysekara said that in February 2019 there was a meeting with former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Western Province Governor Azath Salley and during that meeting Salley had asked them to release these suspects.”I didn’t want to grant the request because those suspects were under detention and were to be questioned. Later, CID CI Janaka Marasinghe, who was in charge of the investigation, gave me a report saying that there was insufficient evidence against the two men. I had to release them.”

Abeysekara was also asked why the CID had failed to arrest Zahran Hashim. The CID usually traced a suspect by tracking a person’s phone connection and call details, he said. “Zahran and his team had used an app named ‘Threema’ to make calls. That was the reason why we couldn’t locate him.”

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INS Sindhukesari arrives in Colombo

Published

7 mins ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

INS Sindhukesari, a submarine serving in the Indian Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo on 03 May 26 to undertake Operational Turnarounds.

The visiting submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in precision with naval traditions.

Throughout its stay in the island, the submarine’s crew is scheduled to participate in a variety of programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, including visits to several tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.

News

Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.

This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.

The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.

News

Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.