The Government claimed that progress can be seen in the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks as proper investigations are now underway after being abandoned and obstructed for more than five years.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing yesterday (22), Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the law enforcement authorities will soon identify the perpetrators of the attacks through the ongoing investigations.
“Only now the investigations are being carried out properly. Previously, they were abandoned for more than five years,” he alleged. He also observed that the conduct of certain politicians reflects the success of the ongoing investigations.
Following media inquiries about why the names of those responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks, reportedly set to be revealed on Monday (21), had not yet been disclosed, as stated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, he said that the President’s statement was not incorrect. However, he added that specific timeframes cannot be given regarding the investigations due to the complexity of the investigations. “These investigations are very complex. The necessary information is being uncovered. Progress is evident. We must allow the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Judiciary to identify and reveal the individual or group of masterminds. What I can assure is that the investigations are being conducted properly,” he said.
In response to questions raised by the media regarding the arrest and detention of former Parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, he noted that no one should assume that he was arrested solely for the abduction of a professor at the Eastern University. “As more arrests are made in connection with this matter, the public will understand how organised and widespread this network is. The investigations are not limited to incidents surrounding the Easter Sunday attacks but go back many years. The authorities are receiving valuable information. Some of the findings will be disclosed to the media by the Police and the CID to some extent,” he said.