MP Mujibur Rahman, speaking in Parliament today questioned inconsistencies surrounding the the fate of Sarah Jasmin, a key suspect linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Rahman said 14 individuals from Zahran’s family died in a suicide blast in Saindamarudu on April 26, 2019. However, he claimed Zahran’s brother, Shiny, was not killed in the explosion but was shot outside the house afterward.
“Zahran’s wife Haadiyah, who survived the bombing has given testimony that Shiny called her, from outside of the house after the bomb detonated. She said a few moments later, she heard gunshots. Shiny was killed by gunfire, he didn’t die in the bomb. So who killed him?” Rahman questioned.
Rahman also claimed that Sarah Jasmin, believed to have died in the same incident, was alive and taken away. Citing Haadiyah’s testimony, he said a person with a familiar voice spoke to her in Tamil after the blast, and she later identified the voice as Sarah’s.
“Meanwhile Sarah is alive. Sarah is taken away. Haadiyah in her testimony says someone with a familiar voice spoke to her in Tamil. Then the judges ask Haadiyah who it was, to which she responds that she believes it was Sarah. She says she saw Sarah being taken away.”
Rahman called for answers from military officials, naming Minister General Aruna Jayasekara, who was the Eastern Commander at the time and is now the Deputy Minister of Defence.
“On April 26 Sarah was taken away. Ask Major Subasinghe who took her away. Who was the Eastern Commander at this time? Commander Security Forces of the East was Major General Aruna Jayasekara who is your Deputy Minister of Defence. Ask him where Sarah was taken to? It’s your government, you have Sherlock Holmes now,” he said.
Rahman alleged that the former government falsely portrayed Sarah as deceased and that the current Inspector General of Police received the third DNA report regarding her case in the presence of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne.
He further alleged that the network behind the 2019 attacks remains active. He cited the recent arrest and release on bail of “Podi Zahran,” who was reportedly filming near the Bohra Conference, despite having previous terror-related charges.
In contrast, Rahman said, a youth was imprisoned over baseless charges related to pro-Palestine activism, suggesting selective enforcement and ongoing protection of individuals tied to the Easter attacks.
Rahman also said that a mobile connection registered in Sarah’s name was recently activated and said he would table the relevant document in Parliament. (Newswire)