News

Ex- SDIG of CID tells PCoI Zahran, his cadres had been planning attacks from 2017

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/23

By Rathindra Kuruwita

National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim and his associates had initially planned to carry out a suicide attack in 2020, former SDIG of the CID, Ravi Seneviratne on Friday night told the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.

Seneviratne said that while they were aware of Zahran’s ideology, it was during the CID investigations into the Jihadist Training Camp at Wanathawilluwa that they had found his direct involvement with extremists.

Seneviratne had earlier said that they presented former IGP Pujith Jayasundara with a report on the Jihadist training camp and information elicited from the suspects arrested at the camp on January 26, 2019. However, as the IGP was banned from attending the National Security Council (NSC), the report could not be sent there.

The AG’s Department representative leading the evidence asked the witness if he had also received a letter in early April 2019, sent by former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena about a possible terrorist attack.

“Jayawardena sent it to the former IGP on April 09, 2019 about the attacks. On April 16, 2019, I got a copy of the letter from Jayasundara. I was out of the country on an official visit and I only came to office on April 16. We were to arrest those who were mentioned in the letter. So I forwarded the letter to Director of the CID, Shani Abeysekera and ASP Wickramasekera. But Shani had only seen the letter on April 23, 2019, after the attack.”

The AG’s Department representative then asked the witness if he had received a text message from the former SIS Director on the morning of April 21 warning that an attack would take place on that day. The former SDIG said had seen that text after the bomb explosions.

The AG’s Department official said: “After the attacks, MP Harin Fernando told the media that his father had asked him not to go to Church on April 21. From what was revealed at the PCoI, police sergeant Nandalal, who was involved in CID investigations into the Mawanella Buddha statue vandalisation and the Wanathawilluwa Jihadist camp, had called Harin’s father on April 20 night. It is likely that Nandalal warned him of the attacks. How would CID officials know about such an attack on April 20?”

Seneviratne said that although he was not aware how Nandalal had received information about the attacks, Nilantha Jayawardena, on April 20, had informed him that a terror attack would take place on April 21. “I shared that information with Shani and ASP Wickramesekera,” the witness said.

Seneviratne also told the PCoI about NTJ preparations for the attacks. The witness said that Zahran and his associates were planning to carry out an attack from 2017. Unhappy about the progress they had made in 2018, Zahran had asked Shaheed Abdul-Haq, who was behind vandalizing Buddha statues in Mawanella, to attack the statues.

Seneviratne said: “Zahran also asked those who were with him, if they wanted to become fighters or suicide bombers. While Zahran was away, NTJ members decided to carry out suicide attacks outside Sri Lanka. However Zahran then motivated them to carry out attacks here. They decided that the attacks should take place in 2020. However, by the first week of April 2019, Zahran decided to launch the attack as soon as possible. Although there were initial disagreements, NTJ members agreed by April 09 and by April 17, they decided to launch the attacks on Easter Sunday, which fell on April 21. Looking at these revelations I felt that Zahran was being handled by someone else. I wanted to find out who this was before I retired.”

At his point the AG’s Department official wrote a name on a piece of paper and showed it to Seneviratne . “Could this be the person?” he asked the witness.

“Yes, it is possible. The name you showed me had worked with Zahran,” Seneviratne said.

The former SDIG overseeing the CID also revealed that NTJ had arranged for a hiding place where those who failed to carry out the suicide attack could gather. “This was a place of worship in Colombo. The person who failed to carry out the attack should get there and tell another person that he was there. Then a person would come to pick up the unsuccessful attacker and take him to a safe house.”

Seneviratne also wrote the name of the person who was to transport the unsuccessful attackers into a safe house. The witness said that person had been arrested.

“We must find out those who handled Zahran. Until they are revealed, the threat to national security will always be there,” he said.

Members of the PCoI also asked Seneviratne if the NTJ had received financial aid from an Islamic State. The witness said that the CID had not been able to find such a link. “We found about 42 bank accounts belonging to this group. They all belong to Sri Lankans and the money had been provided by the Ibrahim brothers (Mohamed Ibrahim Insaf Ahmed who carried out the suicide bombing at Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo and Mohamed Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed who carried out the suicide bombing at Shangri- La hotel in Colombo).”

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/23

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 22 March 2026, valid for 23 March 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

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.

News

Fuel price hikes trigger transport disruptions and calls for fare increases

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/23

Thilina Walpola

The latest fuel price increases have sparked widespread concern among transport operators and raised questions about the government’s supportive measures. Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr Nalinda Jayathissa told a media briefing yesterday that the government was incurring a monthly loss of Rs. 20 billion by maintaining subsidies on fuel. According to the Minister, the state loses Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol under the current pricing system, a burden that the Treasury continues to absorb as part of a “supportive mechanism.”

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) revised fuel prices from midnight on March 21, raising the price of a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel by Rs. 79 to Rs. 382, Super Diesel by Rs. 90 to Rs. 443, Octane 95 petrol by Rs. 90 to Rs. 455, and Octane 92 petrol by Rs. 81 to Rs. 398. Lanka Kerosene was increased by Rs. 60,bringing the price to Rs. 255 per litre. Other suppliers, including Sinopec and Lanka IOC, also implemented similar hikes, with Sinopec’s Super Diesel rising sharply by Rs. 219 to Rs. 572 per litre.

The surge in fuel prices has had an immediate impact on public transport. The Chairman of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association, Gamunu Wijerathne, told The Island that 90% of private buses were off the road yesterday (22). He called for a 15% increase in bus fares, raising the minimum fare from Rs. 27 to Rs. 35, warning that services could be suspended if fare adjustments are not approved.

Three-wheeler operators have also pressed for immediate fare revisions. L. Rohana Perera, General Secretary of the National Joint Three-Wheeler and Industrialists’ Association, said the rising fuel costs have made it difficult for drivers to continue operating. The Association has proposed a Rs. 20 increase for the first kilometre fare for all meter-operated three-wheelers and plans to present its concerns to the Presidential Secretariat.

Fuel price monitoring has also intensified amid concerns over potential smuggling. A senior police officer told The Island that intelligence units have been deployed near fuel stations to prevent hoarding. The police suspect that certain fuel station employees and owners could be facilitating stockpiling.

Political leaders have warned that the hikes will ripple across the economy. SJB MP S.M. Marikkar said transport cost increases will drive up the prices of essential goods such as rice and fish, leaving consumers struggling under rising costs.

Import and export container transportation charges will be increased by 20% from midnight yesterday (22) due to the recent fuel price hike, according to the Container Transport Vehicle Owners’ Association.

The latest increases follow two rounds of price hikes since March 9, driven by surging global oil prices amid the Middle East conflict. Since then, Lanka Petrol 92 Octane has risen by Rs. 105 to Rs. 398, Petrol 95 Octane by Rs. 115 to Rs. 455, Auto Diesel by Rs. 101 to Rs. 382, and Super Diesel by Rs. 114 to Rs. 443 representing an overall increase of around 35% across key fuel categories.

by Norman Palihawadane and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

News

Prof. Peiris honoured by International Institute of Rehabilitation

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/23

Thilina Walpola

Felicitating Prof. Peiris at the event were Senior Lecturer Ravindra Samarawickrama, Chairman of the International Organisation for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation, Director Nilantha Kotikawatte, and Senior Lecturer Udaya Kumara Amarasingha, Head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

At the award presentation ceremony of the International Rehabilitation Institute last week, Professor G.L. Peiris, as Chief Guest, in his keynote address, dealt with the special relevance of rehabilitation at this time. The traditional criminal law makes provision for punishment after a crime has been committed, and punishment usually takes the form of a prison sentence. It is even more important, however, to explore practical means of prevention and also to have recourse to a custodial sentence as a last resort rather than as the typical response.

The modern approach is that punishment is seen not as retributive but as a means of rehabilitating the offender in society. Prison sentences, bringing a first offender into the prison environment and association with habitual offenders, carries the risk of recidivism, the available statistics indicating the likelihood of return to prison on repeated occasions.

He placed emphasis on the importance of informed social attitudes to ensure that an offender does not carry a permanent stigma, reducing his opportunities for employment and acceptance in society. The importance of religious instruction in early childhood, and the close connection between temple and village, was stressed.

Professor Peiris was honoured with an award of appreciation by academic colleagues.