By Shamindra Ferdinando

Dissident SLPP MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says in spite of several investigations, in some instances supported by foreign experts, the government hasn’t been able to convince the Catholic Church, as well as some other concerned parties, as to the origins of the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) terror plot.

Therefore, the urgent need to address the concerns and grievances of those who had been affected by the Easter Sunday attacks couldn’t be ignored, the first-time entrant to Parliament said.

Dr. Godahewa said that the failure on the part of the government to reassure them even five years after the Easter Sunday carnage underscored significant weaknesses in the official investigations.

In a brief interview with The Island over the weekend, the former State Minister asserted that the crux of the matter is whether the group of suicide cadres had been directed by powerful elements who still evaded the attention of law enforcement authorities.

The Gampaha District MP said that he raised several contentious issues, including the possibility of the existence of Easter Sunday masterminds during three-day debate on the NTJ attacks held in Parliament last week. Dr. Godahewa said that the debate underscored the need to pay attention to several factors that had been dealt by various parties over and over again.

Along with the former External Affairs Minister and several other SLPP MPs, Dr. Godahewa has aligned himself with the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

Responding to another query, Dr. Godahewa said that he would like to mention five specific issues that needed to be addressed as part of the overall efforts to prove that the government was keen to establish the truth.

The lawmaker pointed out that so many years after the almost simultaneous attacks that left nearly 300 innocent people dead and several hundreds more injured, controversy still surrounds the real identity of the person referred to as Abu Hind widely believed to be an Indian who may have handled Zahran. Dr. Godahewa said that Zahran Hashim’s wife, Fathima Hadiya, in her evidence, referred to this person who repeatedly got in touch with her husband to advise him in the run-up to the Easter Sunday attacks. What was Abu Hind’s motive, Dr. Godahewa asked?

The second question is why Abdul Lathiff Jameel, who had been tasked to detonate himself at the Taj Samudra hotel, Colombo, didn’t do so. Referring to statements made by various persons and disclosures made before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), MP Godahewa said that an explanation was needed as to why he aborted the deadly mission after receiving a call on his mobile.

Dr. Godahewa said that he still couldn’t comprehend as to why Jameel triggered his explosives kit at Tropical Inn, Dehiwela, after he was obviously directed by the caller to cancel the operation. The third issue, according to Dr. Godahewa is as to how intelligence personnel rushed to Jameel’s home immediately after he had left the Taj Samudra. Were intelligence authorities been aware of the sordid operations about to be undertaken by Jameel in advance?

Referring to the continuing controversy over Sara Jasmin, the wife of Katuwapitiya bomber Mohamed Hasthun, Dr. Godahewa questioned as to why a third DNA test had to be conducted to prove her death at NTJ hideout at Sainthamarutu about a week after the Easter Sunday attacks?

And finally, in spite of all sorts of explanations, the people were suspicious of the connection between the bombers and the intelligence officer who had been traced through an IP address, Dr. Godahewa said.

Pointing out that SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has assured the Church that an independent investigation would be conducted by his government, following the forthcoming presidential poll, Dr. Godahewa said that his group was ready to support such an endeavor. However, they wouldn’t, under any circumstances, support Yahapalana type witch hunts directed at opponents, Dr. Godahewa declared.

The lawmaker emphasized the need for a consensus among all stakeholders as to the type and framework for investigation that was to be undertaken after the change of government. Dr. Godahewa said that an independent mechanism was needed as the powers that be should inquire into whether a genuine investigation could be facilitated under the current laws.

The SLPPer said that they have to keep in mind that the Attorney General couldn’t move court on the basis of recommendations made by various commissions. This applied to PCoI on the Easter Sunday carnage, Dr. Godahewa said.

Recalling his visit to Katuwapitiya where over 100 people perished in Hasthun’s suicide bomb blast, Dr. Godahewa said that the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Catholic Church acted swiftly and decisively to prevent counter violence. Their response prevented another calamity, the MP said, emphasizing the responsibility on the part of the government to ensure a transparent investigation and punish those responsible.

Dr. Godahewa said that it would be a grave mistake on political parties to think the issue would fade away. That wouldn’t happen. The Catholic community would continue to press the government and other political parties over this issue, Dr. Godahewa said, adding that about 40 foreigners were among those killed on that day.