Jayasundara complains of ex-Director SIS reducing communication with him by 2019

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena had drastically reduced communication with him by 2019, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara yesterday (21) told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.

Jayasundara made this statement when counsel Madu Jayathilake, representing SDIG Jayawardena asked the witness whether her client had informed him of the foreign report, received on 04 April 2019 warning about a possible terrorist attack over the phone before sending an official report on 09 April.

“He called me on 07 April but didn’t tell me about the warning. By this time he hardly called me unlike in the past. This was due to several reasons and I made up my mind although I was upset.”

The former IGP added that he had received an official report from SDIG Jayawardena on 09 April 2019 and that he forwarded that document to SDIG of the Western Province Nandana Munasinghe,  SDIG crimes and STF M.R. Latheef, DIG special protection range Lucien Priyalal and Director of the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division DIG Waruna Jayasundara on April 09. 

“These people were chosen because I had to pass this important message. On the other hand, I wanted to ensure that this information would not leak out and there would be no public unrest. If something had happened, President Maithripala Sirisena would have sacked me. He disliked me immensely and wanted to get rid of me. I had to act with great caution.”

Jayasundara also admitted that the message had not gone to some officers at the ground level.