News
Former Army Chief Senanayake exposes failure of Sirisena, Ranil, NSC, CID, TID
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had not taken National Security seriously or fully cooperated at the National Security Council (NSC) meetings, former Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake on Wednesday (7) told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.
Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) had given prior warnings about National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) and Zahran Hashim and the threat they posed to National Security in 2018. However, no official at the National Security Council (NSC) had taken these warnings seriously, he said.
During the Digana riots the DMI had warned of possible threats which Zahran could pose in the future.
“The DMI asked relevant officials to arrest Zahran after those riots, but none of them heeded warnings.”
Senanayake said that Zahran had been preaching IS ideology according to information received by the DMI in 2018. The DMI had informed the NSC that Zahran was encouraging Muslim youth to embrace the IS ideology.
Senanayake said that former President Maithripala Sirisena, too, had been aware of the situation since 2018. Commissioners then asked the witness why the security forces had failed to take necessary action against Zahran and his associates.
“There was a lot of competition among investigation agencies and they did not cooperate with the DMI when they conducted inquiries. If the institutions with power to enforce the law had arrested Zahran, the terror attacks would not have happened.”
The commissioners then asked the witness what institutions had not cooperated with the DMI.
The former Army Commander said that investigations units attached to the Police, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) had acted in an uncooperative manner.
When the Wanathawilluwa jihadist training camp was raided, the CID could have obtained the support from the DMI because the DMI had a huge network that could have assisted the inquiry, the ex-Army Chief said.
“Information being revealed at this Commission on Zahran and his associates is not new to me. We had been providing such information even before Easter Sunday attacks.”
News
Some VIP security units disbanded, special ‘motivation incentive allowance’ abolished, with some exceptions
Defence Secy. assures regular entitlements won’t be curtailed
Defence Secretary retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyakontha has assured the armed forces that contrary to claims, reports and speculation, the NPP government will not curtail various entitlements provided to them.
The declaration was made at the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Headquarters at the Defence Headquarters Complex, Pelawatte, on Monday (Oct 07).
AVM Thuyakontha, who was in the centre of controversy in the run-up to the presidential election over his support for Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s candidature and blacklisted by the SLAF, visited several divisions of Air Force HQ accompanied by the Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa and other senior officers.
Military Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Padman de Costa also joined the Defence Secretary on his visit to the Air Force HQ.
During the war, Thuyakontha served as the Commanding Officer of the famed 09 Squadron consisting of Mi-24 helicopter gunships.
AVM Thuyakontha reiterated the government’s commitment to the general welfare of the armed forces.
However, the government has declared that what is called ‘motivation incentive allowance’ paid to security forces personnel attached to security units of former VIPs was stopped from Sept. 22, the day after the presidential election.
The Defence Ministry has informed the Army, Navy and Air Force commanders that there was no requirement for ‘motivation incentive allowance’ as the provision of such security has been discontinued.
According to the Defence Ministry, only security units attached to the Chief of Defence Staff, three service commanders and former presidents would continue to receive the special allowance. (SF)
News
US strengthens SLAF maritime surveillance squadron
The SLAF will officially take delivery of Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, donated by the United States at the Katunayake airbase.
The US Embassy in Colombo said that funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity programme was part of a long-term collaboration with the Sri Lanka Air Force.
“This advanced aircraft is designed to enhance Sri Lanka’s capabilities in search and rescue operations, drug interdiction, and combating trafficking and smuggling. It will also significantly improve the country’s maritime surveillance operations while reinforcing U.S.-Sri Lanka defense cooperation,” the Embassy said.
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is equipped with cutting-edge technology to boost Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its waters and address maritime threats.
The aircraft would be assigned to the Number 03 Maritime Squadron based in China Bay, Trincomalee. The squadron comprises Indian and American surveillance aircraft and would be joined before end of this year by an aircraft donated by Australia.
News
FDI depends on transparency and ‘streamlined policies’
– South Korean envoy
South Korean Ambassador Miyon Lee has assured President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of their readiness to resume investments here.
A statement issued by ROK Embassy in Colombo quoted Ambassador Lee as having reaffirmed willingness among Korean companies to recommence investments in Sri Lanka and expressed expectations on Sri Lanka’s commitment towards maintaining transparency and streamlined policies to attract Foreign Direct Investment for the country.
Ambassador Lee discussed the issue when she paid a courtesy call on President Dissanayake yesterday (09) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, Ambassador Lee congratulated President Dissanayake on his inauguration and also conveyed best wishes from President Yoon Suk Yeol and his expectations to bolster the relationship between the two countries under the new leadership.
Ambassador Miyon Lee expressed the Korean government’s unwavering support to Sri Lanka with the continuation of people-to-people exchanges, cooperation in education, health and various other sectors. While expressing Korea’s intention to collaborate on digitalization, climatic change initiatives and in the renewable energy sector, she elaborated the role of the Korean government agencies such as KOICA, KOFIH and Saemaul Foundation working in Sri Lanka and called for Sri Lankan government’s continued support for various activities steered by these agencies in this country.
In line with the commitments set out by the International Monetary Fund, the Ambassador wished Sri Lanka for a successful Debt Restructuring Programme and emphasized the commitments by Korea Exim Bank to renew the framework agreement for loan projects to Sri Lanka.
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