SIS requested IGP to arrest Zahran and associates as far back as May 2018

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The State Intelligence Service (SIS) had requested then Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara to arrest NTJ leader Zahran Hashim and his associates in May 2018  because their extremist activities would pose a threat to the country’s security, it was revealed on Wednesday (30) at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.

The SIS had written to the IGP following their investigations into clashes in Kattankudy in March 2017 between NTJ and Sunnath Wal Jamaat organization. The report sent by the SIS also said that Zahran had thought the killing of non-Muslims to be a noble deed and he was attempting to incite Muslims through his propaganda.

When a Commissioner asked former IGP Jayasundara whether the report had been discussed at the National Security Council, the witness said he did not remember any discussion over it.

“At commencement of National Security Council meetings, the Director of SIS usually made a multimedia presentation. That even contained information that I did not receive. So, I didn’t have much to say about it.”