Sri Lanka's ex-president Maithripala Sirisena summoned by Easter attack probe panel

Sri Lanka’s former president Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly been summoned by a presidential probe panel on August 26 in a bid to record his statement on last year’s dely Easter attacks. recent development comes after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who pledged an independent probe in incident during his election campaign, assumed office. As per reports, same panel, which was appointed by Sirisena, has been ordered to continue investigation. 

Last year on Easter Sunday, nine suicide bombers, belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS, carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels. blasts reportedly killed nearly 258 people, including 11 Indians. Back n, previous government heed by Sirisena and former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was blamed for its inability to prevent attacks despite prior intelligence me available on impending attack. 

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As panel continues to investigate case furr, last week, officials even summoned Wickremesinghe to appear before it on August 18. Apart from former PM and President, two of senior officials, Sagala Ratnayake and Ruwan Wijewardena, who were responsible for police and defence in government, have also reportedly been summoned by panel. 

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Ex-PM says Sirisena excluded him from NSC deliberations 

As Wickremesinghe suffered a crushing defeat in August 5 parliamentary elections, it is believed that dely Easter attack was one of main reasons for his government’s loss. As per reports, Wickremesinghe’s government was blamed for failure to prevent attack despite warnings from India. Back n, public outr also mounted against n ruling party. 

According to reports, n-police chief and top defence ministry bureaucrat were also remanded for ir criminal negligence. Wickremesinghe, on or hand, defended himself by reportedly saying that due to political differences, Sirisena while holding defence ministry control h excluded him from National Security Council deliberations. 

(Im: @vernacurlartube/Twitter) 

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