A senior Army Intelligence officer has told the Presidential Commission investigating into the Easter Sunday attacks that former Criminal Investigation Department CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera had not permitted to question those who were allegedly involved in extremist activities and conduct further investigations into them.
The Army Intelligence Officer told the Commission that the Army Intelligence director wanted to question the suspects involved in desecrating the Buddha statues in Mawanella and those who were arrested with a cache of explosives in Vanathavilluwa.
He said when inquired by Commission President, Court of Appeal Judge Justice Janak De Silva that the former CID Director did not permit the Army intelligence to interrogate the these suspects even though a request was made to him three months before the Easter Sunday attacks.
The name of the Intelligence Officer was not announced at the request of the Commission Chairman. This officer said that special attention was focused on the motorcycle explosion near the Kaththankudy army camp as it was an unusual incident. He said they suspected a link between the Kaththankudy explosion and the discovery of explosives from Wanathavilluwa.
The witness when asked whether the Army Commander was informed concerning this situation, said the Army Intelligence Director apprised the Army Commander verbally and in black and white. He said then Army commanders Lt. Gen. Krishantha De Silva and General Mahesh Senanayake were thus informed of the situation. He told the Commission that he believes that the Army Intelligence director would have made the then Army Commanders aware about Islamic extremists too.
He said Mohammed Jameel who blew himself at the Tropical Inn lodge in Dehiwala has been proven to be involved in extremist activities. The witness said that a team led by him succeeded in reaching the house of this suicide bomber’s house and question his wife within an hour of the blast. He also said that they have received information of Mohommed Ibrahim and Mohammed Jameel for having been involved in extremist activities from 2015.These suicide bombers were involved in the Dematagoda and Dehiwala blasts.