Presidential probe committee report on Easter Sunday attacks:

* Link between Moulana and Zahran found

*  Copy of report sent by post

 * Salley serving overseas during period in question

* More than 200 reports submitted on NTJ activities

By Rathindra Kuruwita 

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (28) alleged that a retired CID officer, who was featured in a Channel 4 documentary on the Easter Sunday attacks, had been appointed to a high post under the current government although he had tarnished the image of the country irreparably by making false allegations.

Addressing a press conference, Gammanpila disclosed the findings of a report submitted by a presidential probe committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice S.I. Imam, on allegations made in the Channel 4 documentary regarding the Easter attacks.

Gammanpila stopped short of naming the CID officer, citing a lack of definitive evidence. He noted that the assumption of the former CID officer’s identity was based on several indicators including his voice and choice of words.

“In this Channel 4 video, another person appears with his face covered, identifying himself as a retired senior government servant. However, it is apparent that this is a retired police officer. Although the Imam Committee was not tasked with identifying this person, it did look into the matter, but the report does not confirm his identity. I believe this person is a retired CID officer, now holding a high position in the Dissanayake administration,” he stated.

Gammanpila highlighted the challenges facing Sri Lanka’s intelligence services, stating that many Sri Lankans were reluctant to join these agencies due to years of undermining, forcing the country to rely on foreign intelligence sources. He pointed out that this dependency was the reason why Sri Lanka received intelligence on the Easter Sunday attacks from a foreign agency.

Gammanpila also referred to allegations made by Azath Moulana, a former spokesman of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), in the Channel 4 documentary. According to Moulana, in February 2018, members of Sri Lanka’s intelligence agencies, including Suresh Salley, the former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), met the National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) to discuss an attack. Moulana claimed he had facilitated the meeting at a coconut estate in Wanathawilluwa, owned by NTJ leader Zahran Hashim.

Gammanpila contested the aforesaid allegations, asserting that Suresh Salley had been stationed at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia from 2016 until December 2018 and the latter had returned briefly to Sri Lanka in November 2017. During that period Zahran and his associates had not left the Eastern Province, as confirmed by their phone records.

Gammanpila added that Zahran’s brother Rilwan had been injured while experimenting with explosives and received treatment from a doctor residing in the same village as Moulana. He also noted that Rilwan had hid near Moulana’s residence in Dehiwala. According to Gammanpila, the Imam committee had found evidence of a close connection between Moulana and Zahran, Gammanpila said.

The PHU leader also mentioned that the Imam committee had discovered Moulana was eager to leave Sri Lanka and sought asylum in Switzerland.

Gammanpila defended the actions of intelligence agencies, explaining that they usually infiltrated terrorist groups by posing as members. “The Imam committee states that our intelligence agencies submitted around 200 reports on NTJ activities, with the SIS alone contributing 17 reports. It is clear they were able to provide these reports due to successful infiltration. Intelligence agencies will not disclose the identities of their infiltrators, even if they are questioned by the police,” he explained.

Gammanpila flayed Channel 4 and the UNHRC for not cooperating with the Imam committee’s request to provide evidence. “After the Channel 4 documentary was released, Sri Lanka denied the allegations, and Suresh Salley threatened legal action if Channel 4 did not correct the report. Consequently, Channel 4 had removed the documentary from the Internet,” Gammanpila said, adding that a copy of the Iman report had been sent to him by post.