“Aragalaya” (public movement to overthrow the previous Government led by then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) breakaway group, the Save the Motherland Unity organisation has demanded an immediate investigation into controversial Channel 4 documentary whistleblower Hanzeer Azad Maulana who has claimed alleged links of pro-Rajapaksa officials with the Easter Sunday attacks that took place in 2019.
Holding a press conference yesterday (12), the organisation said that strict actions must be taken against Rajapaksa and the military officials whose names have been mentioned in the documentary if any such involvement had taken place, while legal actions must be taken against the whistleblower who revealed this information, for his past actions and for not working to prevent the massacre. The organisation also said that an international investigation must be done into the entire incident as soon as possible.
Speaking at the press conference, the organisation’s Chairman Shums Farook said that numerous civil society organisations had warned the then-United National Front for Good Governance Government of a potential terrorist attack and that the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama had made several complaints against Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim and his team prior to the attack. He expressed concern about the conduct of officials in the intelligence services and the Police since they failed to take any action against the terrorists even when provided with all the information regarding the behaviour of the bombers.
He added that many loopholes prevailed in the security divisions and that the negligence of the then-Government had cleared the path for conspirators to achieve their goals, adding that certain issues created by Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups led by people like Namal Kumara had fueled the situation. “Former Deputy Inspector General of Police Nalaka Silva who had been monitoring the team of Zahran was removed and arrested under the orders of then-President Maithripala Sirisena based on false allegations made by Kumara regarding an assassination attempt. Otherwise, Silva was to submit many important documents to the court against these bombers. But, in the end, Silva was released and over 260 persons had to sacrifice their lives for personal rivalries. Therefore, we want action to be taken against all these people,” he said.
The press conference was held in the wake of a documentary aired by the United Kingdom’s Channel 4 News last week titled Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings – Dispatches which made revelations including on the alleged involvement and complicity of certain government officials in orchestrating the said terror attacks.