Sri Lanka: Cabinet Panel to submit report on 2019 Easter bombings to President

Cabinet Panel which studied recommendations of Presidential Commission into Easter attacks will be submitting its reports to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday, April 5. While speaking to media, Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that report will be released to public after it is handed over to President. According to reports by ANI, committee is chaired by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and comprises Minister Udaya Gammanpila, Prasanna Ranatunga, Johnston Fernando, and Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

Shocking revelation

Earlier, a report from Sri Lanka’s Parliament Select Committee (PSC) me a shocking revelation that Indian High Commission and a hotel frequented by Indians were one of targets of Easter bombing that killed more than 250 people including 40 foreigners. reports said, “intelligence information received indicated that Indian High Commission was to be one of potential targets”. report has also blamed President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena for undermining national security and failing to prevent Easter attack, as intelligence ncies h prior information on a possible terror attack.

Excerpts from reports re, “Testimony received by PSC demonstrates that intelligence teams were aware of potential threats by Zahran, his associates and NTJ (National Thowheed Jamaat) prior to Easter bombings. Testimony also indicates several intelligence ncies being aware of increasing extremism in Sri Lanka and role of Zahran and his associates in this regard”. report also slammed President Maithripala Sirisena for failing on "numerous occasions to give leership" and "actively undermining government and systems having hoc NSC meetings and leaving out key individuals from meetings". 

2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings

On 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday, suicide terrorist bombings that took place in three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka killed around 277 people (including 8 suicide bombers) and wounded more than 400 people as per information in report. At least 40 foreign nationals and at least 45 children were reported to be among de. Investigators identified Zahran Hashim, founder of National Thowheed Jamaath, as mastermind behind execution of se coordinated attacks. Subsequent to attacks, incidents of ethnic violence and tension targeting Muslim community occurred in several parts of country. Ahe of Easter bombings, An explosion took place in Palamunai, Kaththankudy, on night of April 16, where a two-wheeler (actually a Scooty) was destroyed. Subsequent investigations revealed that this was a dry run to test timers and detonators.

(Im Credits: PTI)