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Sajith tells Parliament about ‘undeniable evidence linking Zahran group to Army intelligence’
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that irrefutable evidence had emerged, linking the Zahran group, which carried out the Easter Sunday terror attacks, to the Army intelligence.
Participating in the debate on the Channel 4 exposure on the Easter Sunday terror attacks, Premadasa said that there were instances that pointed to links between the Army intelligence and the Zahran group. Firstly, there was an IP address of an intelligence officer who used his girlfriend’s mobile phone to contact members of the Zahran group, information provided by the FBI, which was not further investigated.
Secondly, a terrorist, who was to attack Hotel Taj has gone away after receiving a phone call and met an intelligence officer in Dehiwala. Attempts by the Wellawatte police to conduct an investigation were thwarted by intelligence units. Thirdly, when two policemen were assassinated in Vaunathivu, Army intelligence repeatedly claimed that the LTTE was responsible and even placed an LTTE suicide jacket to mislead CID.
Fourthly, when the police apprehended Sadeeq and Haq, who vandalised the Buddha statues in Mawanella and brought them to Colombo for questioning, Army intelligence officers intercepted them twice. Those instances strongly suggested a connection between Army intelligence and the Zahran group.
CID investigators had found that a person known as Sonic had used a sim card to speak to Zahran. The investigators traced the owner of the sim card, a woman police officer attached to the City Traffic Police. When questioned she told the investigators that she bought the sim card but later had given it to her boyfriend an SI by the name of Bandara attached to the State Intelligence Service. He is now IP Bandara. It was he who asked the suspect known as Podi Zahran to persuade ISIS to claim responsibility for the terror attacks. All the evidence led to the fact that Army intelligence had direct links with the Zahran Group who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks, Premadasa said.
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 12 April 2026, valid for 13 April 2026.
Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.
The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (13th) are Pesalai, Mankulam and Nedunkerny about 12:11 noon.
The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) TAIMUR and ASLAT arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit on 12 Apr 26.
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in
compliance with naval traditions.
The duo of ships is commanded by Captain NIAMAT SAEED KHAN (PNS TAIMUR) and Captain NADIR MATEEN AFRIDI (PNS ASLAT).
Meanwhile, the ships are expected to conduct a Bilateral Naval Exercise LION STAR V with the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo seas.
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces.
Sun directly overhead Pesalai, Mankulam and Nedunkerny about 12:11 noon
PNS TAIMUR & ASLAT arrive in Colombo
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