News
Ex-SIS Chief defends his decision to record conversations with his superiors
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Given that some of his superiors had tried to shift the blame on Easter Sunday attacks to the SIS, he saw nothing unethical about recording conversations he had with his superiors after the tragedy to protect the reputation of his institution, former SIS Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday told the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.
Jayawardena made this statement when Shamil Perera, the counsel appearing for Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith asked him whether it was ethical for Jayawardena to record phone calls without informing the person at the other end.
“You have repeatedly told the PCoI that you are an officer and gentleman. How ethical was it for you to record calls without telling the other party?”
SDIG Jayawardena said that everyone had worked together as one before the Easter Sunday attacks. However, that had changed after the attacks and a number of persons tried to shift the blame to the SIS, Jayawardena said.
“I didn’t betray anyone. But there were many attempts to undermine the SIS. I recorded the conversations that I had with senior officials after the attack, to protect the dignity of the SIS.”
Jayawardena added that there were no laws governing intelligence gathering. If he had told the person at the other end of the phone that he was recording the call, they would not have spoken truthfully.
“There is a hierarchy and I conveyed to my superiors the information that I had received from a foreign source about a possible terrorist attack. This was actionable information. I am the informant to the state, I can’t arrest people. I can only inform. Now, everyone is saying that I should have done everything, from summoning the National Security Council to informing the former president,” Jayawardena said.
A meeting between UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi was held on Monday (07) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
Particular attention was given to the Government’s programme to resettle people who lost their homes due to Cyclone Ditwah.
The Government’s programme to address potential disasters that may arise in the future amid El Nino conditions was also discussed. The Chief of Staff to the President briefed the UN Resident Coordinator on the Government’s preparedness and plans to address such challenges.
Mr Franche stated that the United Nations was prepared to provide the necessary assistance to the Government to support the successful implementation of these programmes.
Partnerships and Development Finance Specialist at the United Nations Azam Bakeer Markar and UN Sri Lanka Humanitarian and Resilience Officer Wagisha Perera also participated in the discussion.
[President’s Media Division]
[ Cricbuzz]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.
INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.
The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.
Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.
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