News
SJB: Cop who failed to prevent bombings to be made IGP
Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman, MP, yesterday (08) asked the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government whether it intended to appoint Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, one of those who had been accused of failing to thwart the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, as the next Inspector General of Police (IGP).
MP Rahuman said that Jayawardena’s appointment as the IGP seemed certain as the latter had been appointed Senior DIG, Administration, the number two slot in the police hierarchy. Jayawardena received the new appointment following Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe’s retirement.
Rahuman said that the government owed an explanation as to how Jayawardena, who served as the Chief of State Intelligence Service (SIS), moved up the ladder without facing an internal inquiry over the worst-ever single security lapse in the post-war era.
Near simultaneous suicide blasts that targeted three Churches and three hotels claimed the lives of 270 people. Over 500 received injuries. Some of them were maimed for life.
Responding to another query, MP Rahuman said that he had taken up the issue in parliament on January 05, but that had not received sufficient media coverage. “Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakske, PC, didn’t respond though he was in Parliament. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles was not present at that time.”
The incumbent police chief C.D. Wickramaratne received an acting appointment as the IGP in April 2019 close on the heels of the Easter Sunday attacks, and received confirmation in the post on Nov 25, 2020, just over a week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidential election.
MP Rahuman said that the perpetrators of the heinous crime, those who had facilitated the operation as well as neglected their duties and responsibilities should be punished regardless of their standing in the society.
The lawmaker challenged the government to prove that action had been taken in respect of serving law enforcement officers probed by a five-member Presidential Commission. “We are sure, the Yahapalana government which I served, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration and now the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa regime did absolutely nothing. In fact, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday massacre has been discarded. That is the undeniable truth,” MP Rahuman said.MP Rahuman emphasized that none of the Commission’s major recommendations were implemented.
Supreme Court judge Janak de Silva headed the Commission. It included Court of Appeal judge Nishshanka Bandula Karunaratne, retired Supreme Court judges Nihal Sunil Rajapaksha and A. L. Bandula Kumara Atapattu and former Secretary to the Ministry of Justice W. M. M. R. Adhikari H. M. P. Buwaneka Herath functioned as the Secretary to the Commission.
MP Rahuman said that the Commission found fault with the then Secretary Defence Hemasiri Fernando, Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) retired DIG Sisira Mendis and SIS Chief Nilantha Jaywardena for the unprecedented security lapse in spite of having specific intelligence pertaining to the planned attacks. Well over three years after the suicide blasts, the devastating operation remained a mystery, MP Rahuman said, questioning the very basis of the Easter Sunday investigations.
The SJB official asked how the public could believe in police investigations when one of the chief culprits received the appointment as Senior DIG, Administration and was most likely to succeed the incumbent IGP.
Referring to the Easter Sunday Commission’s final report (Vol. 1 pages 287-288), MP Rahuman said that the Commission asserted that there is criminal liability on Jayawardena’s part. The Commission recommended that the Attorney General considers initiating criminal proceedings against the former SIS Chief under any suitable provision in the Penal Code, the MP said.
The lawmaker said that a similar recommendation was made in respect of the ex-head of CNI.The former AG Dappula de Livera, PC, and his successor Sanjiva Rajaratnam, PC, should be asked to explain whether they at least considered the Commission’s recommendations, MP Rahuman said. It would be pertinent to ask whether the AG’s Department acted on the Commission’s recommendations pertaining to its officers, the MP said.
Alleging that the successive governments had covered up the Easter Sunday plot, MP Rahuman pointed out that even Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe whose retirement paved the way for Jayawardena to take up the No 02 slot was named by the Commission as one of the culprits. According to the Commission’s final report (Vol. 1, P 312), the Commission asserted that there is criminal liability on the then Senior DIG, Western Province Munasinghe’s part. The Commission recommended that criminal proceedings should be initiated against Munasinghe under any suitable provision in the Penal Code, MP Rahuman said.
The outspoken MP said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe promised to involve Scotland Yard in the Easter Sunday probe. “We would like to know the status of the government bid to secure Scotland Yard support or was it part of the overall cover-up?” the MP asked.
The General Manager of Railways has announced that the following special train services will operate during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period.
1. From Colombo Fort to Badulla – departing Colombo Fort at 1930 hrs on 11th, 12th, 19th and 20th April
2. From Badulla to Colombo Fort – departing Badulla at 1750 hrs on 11th, 12th, 19th and 20th April
3. From Galle to Anuradhapura – departing Galle at 0400 hrs on 12th and 13th April
4. From Anuradhapura to Galle – departing Anuradhapura at 1500 hrs on 12th and 13th April
5. From Colombo Fort to Galle – departing Colombo Fort at 120 hrs on 10th, 11th, 15th and 20th April
6. From Galle to Colombo Fort – departing Galle at 0610 hrs on 11th, 12th, 16th and 21st April
7. From Colombo Fort to Galle – departing Colombo Fort at 1330 hrs on 12th and 13th April
8. From Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai [Intercity Express] – departing Colombo Fort at 0530 hrs on 11th and 18th April
9. From Kankasanthurai to Colombo Fort [Intercity Express] – departing Kankasanthurai at 1350 hrs on 11th and 18th April
10. From Beliatta to Colombo Fort – departing Beliatta at 0825 hrs on 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th April
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited Hamburg, Germany, focusing on strengthening vocational education and economic partnerships between the two nations. During her visit, she participated in the 102nd East Asia Friendship Dinner, met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and engaged in high-level discussions on investment, education, and economic reforms.
As a Guest of Honour at the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) annual gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya addressed an audience of business leaders and dignitaries, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and its potential as a growing investment destination. She highlighted the contributions of over 160 German companies in Sri Lanka and invited further collaboration in trade and business.
In her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech at the ’German-Asian Forum on Vocational Education & Training.’ She acknowledged Germany’s decades-long support in Sri Lanka’s vocational education sector and stressed the importance of modernizing vocational training to align with industry demands. Additionally, she visited ITECH vocational school and German research hubs such as NXP Semiconductors and DESY, discussing collaboration in IT and technology-driven industries.
During her discussions with President Steinmeier, Prime Minister Amarasuriya reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to economic stability, social protection, and national unity. She also attended a business roundtable, where she engaged with German companies and government representatives on economic expansion, digitalization, and sustainable development initiatives.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Varuni Muthukumarana, and senior embassy officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera on behalf of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (Guarantee) Limited has asked Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya to inquire into the death of Sathsara Nimesh soon after he was admitted to the Mulleriyawa mental hospital by Welikada police on the night of April 1.
In a letter dated April 3 addressed to the IGP, the lawyer said that the victim’s mother Lekamwasam Liyanage Samanthi, who visited Welikada police station the following day, thad been old that her son made a bid to commit suicide at the police station. Quoting the victim’s mother the lawyer said that the clothes worn by Nimesh at the time he was taken into custody by Welikada police were found within the premises.
Responding to queries, the human rights activist said that Nimesh had been caught by a group of people at Nawala road, Welikada around 7.30 pm-8 pm on April 1. Alleging that Nimesh who had been undergoing training at a private hospital as a caregiver was acting suspiciously, the group called in the police on 119 emergency line and handed him over to the police, Perera said, urging the IGP to ensure that the police followed laid out procedures when dealing with suspects.
The Attorney-at-law said that the victim’s mother had visited Mulleriyawa hospital and was able to speak with a doctor who had been present at the time Nimesh was brought there. The doctor had told her that her son was barely alive at the time he was brought in. Perera alleged that Welikada police made an attempt to allude that Nimesh was mentally unsound. If the police had been genuinely concerned about Nimesh in case he was experiencing sudden difficulty, they should have rushed him to the National Hospital, Perera said.
Acknowledging the need to deal firmly with those who are on the wrong side of the law, the rights group said that the police couldn’t adopt Gestapo-style strategies.
The National People’s Power (NPP) government couldn’t turn a blind eye to what was going on regardless of the change of government in last Sept. There had been at least two recent deaths in police custody, Perera said, referring to an incident in the Kotahena police area in the third week of February this year.
Police shot dead two persons arrested over the killing of Shashi Kumar in a mobile phone shop at Kotahena. Police claimed that law enforcement men had to open fire when the suspects made an attempt to grab a weapon from an officer while being taken to a hideout to recover hidden guns.
Lawyer Perera said that police should be ashamed to repeat a blatant lie often used by them though they knew no one accepted that.
Political parties represented in parliament should take up this matter vigorously, he said, urging the government to put an end to custodial deaths, he said. The lawyer pointed out that the Supreme Court, too, has intervened in the matter and the issue was taken up at the highest level.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Special Train Services during Sinhala and Tamil New Year
Trump tariffs trigger steepest US stocks drop since 2020 as China, EU vow to hit back
PM strengthens vocational education and economic ties with Germany
-
News4 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
Sports6 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
News6 days agoGnanasara Thera urged to reveal masterminds behind Easter Sunday terror attacks
-
Sports1 day agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
News5 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features6 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Features6 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know
-
Latest News4 days agoIPL 2025: Rookies Ashwani and Rickelton lead Mumbai Indians to first win