News
Kiriella: Vital evidence withheld from PCoI that probed Easter carnage
By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday carnage had not been able to make satisfactory conclusions as intelligence agencies, the CID, etc., concealed evidence, Chief Opposition Whip, Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Kiriella said that vital evidence had been withheld from the PCoI to prevent it from unearthing the network of terror responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings.
“First, it is public knowledge that Zahran Hashim and some of his colleagues had been paid salaries before 2015 by intelligence agencies. Secondly, everybody knows that Pulastini Mahendran alias Sarah Jasmine, who was the wife of Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hastun, who carried out the suicide bombing at the St. Sebastian’s Church at Katuwapitiya, was taken to India. There was a network that facilitated her escape.”
Kiriella said that Pulastini was privy to vital information and that former Terrorist Investigation Division head DIG Nalaka Silva, was taking steps to arrest Zahran, but Silva was arrested following a complaint by Namal Kumara, who stated that Silva was conspiring to assassinate the then President Mathripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“Evidence on these three issues, i.e. payment of salaries to terrorists, escape of Sarah to India and not asking for her extradition and suspension of TID’s investigations into Zahran’s group were not furnished to the CoI, which could not conduct a complete inquiry as a result.”
“We think that some information was suppressed as it would have implicated some top people of this government in the terror attacks on Easter Sunday,” MP Kiriella said.
He said that the commissioners had no mandate to go beyond the evidence given before them.
“The Commissioners have done their job with available evidence” MP Kiriella said.
SJB Colombo District MP Dr Harsha de Silva also addressed the press.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
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