Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks have entered a new phase under the current government. 

Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Wijepala said investigations are underway into the facts that were revealed in British media ‘Channel 4’s 2023 documentary on the Easter Attacks and related probes. 

He said that further legal proceedings would be conducted based on the facts revealed thus far.

Minister Wijepala noted that facts on the matter were reported to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on 11 November 2024 and that investigations are being carried out. 

He further revealed that as of now, statements have been recorded from 48 persons, including 12 civil witnesses, 7 Army personnel, 24 police officers, and 03 prison officials. 

The Minister of Public Security also noted that 747 persons were apprehended following initial probes conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) into the Easter Attacks. 

He said the Attorney General has filed 14 indictments against 100 of the suspects and that further investigations are underway in this regard. (Newswire)

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Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan says the Criminal Investigations Department’s (CID) probe against him related to British media Channel 4’s documentary on the 2019 Easter attacks, was political revenge.

Speaking to the media today, Pillayan expressed regret that a government department was conducting a probe into baseless allegations. 

“Departments like the CID must work intelligently, without acting on whims of certain individuals,” he said.

The former state minister said he had informed the CID yesterday, during his 5-hour statement, that he wished to give his statement in Tamil, after which the CID informed him to report today to prepare the related language translation work.

Pillayan made the statement after reporting to the CID for the second consecutive day today to record a statement regarding the mentioning of his name in the Channel 4 documentary on the easter attacks. 

In September 2023, British media, ‘Channel 4’ released a video claiming that its Dispatches have exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings.

Among the whistleblowers is Azad Maulana, the former spokesman of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), Pillayan’s political party. 

Appearing in the ‘Channel 4’ video, Azad Maulana alleged that a meeting took place between Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim and the head of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sallay in the East, adding that he himself was present at the time of the meeting. 

Soon after the release of the video, then State Minister of Rural Road Development Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan addressed the Parliament regarding the allegations of links to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Commenting on the revelation, Pillayan denied any links to the Easter Sunday attacks or the bombers, saying such allegations are baseless and further accused his former spokesman of telling lies to strengthen his asylum claim overseas.

Pillayan informed Parliament at the time that Azad Maulana had officially informed the TMVP and left Sri Lanka the previous year along with his family over personal issues. 

Pillayan also called for international assistance to investigate not only the allegations revealed on the ‘Channel 4’ video, but also investigate Azad Maulana over his claims. (Newswire)

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Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pillayan, appeared at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today to provide a statement.

The inquiry follows the mention of his name in last year’s ‘Channel 4’ News documentary investigating the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. 

In September 2023, British media, ‘Channel 4’ released a video claiming that its Dispatches have exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings.

Among the whistleblowers is Azad Maulana, the former spokesman of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), Pillayan’s political party. 

Appearing in the ‘Channel 4’ video, Azad Maulana alleged that a meeting took place between Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim and the head of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sallay in the East, adding that he himself was present at the time of the meeting. 

Soon after the release of the video, then State Minister of Rural Road Development Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan addressed the Parliament regarding the allegations of links to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Commenting on the revelation, Pillayan denied any links to the Easter Sunday attacks or the bombers, saying such allegations are baseless and further accused his former spokesman of telling lies to strengthen his asylum claim overseas.

Pillayan informed Parliament at the time that Azad Maulana had officially informed the TMVP and left Sri Lanka the previous year along with his family over personal issues. 

Pillayan also called for international assistance to investigate not only the allegations revealed on the ‘Channel 4’ video, but also investigate Azad Maulana over his claims. (Newswire)

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Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila has called on the government to investigate an individual who identified himself as a top government official in the video by British Media ‘Channel 4’ on the 2019 Easter attacks aired in September last year. 

The former MP made the request when addressing a special media briefing today during which he disclosed details of the report on the investigation into the Channel 4 video by the committee, headed by Retired Supreme Court Justice S.I.Imam, which was appointed by the former government.

Udaya Gammanpila said he challenges the government to appoint a committee to investigate and find out the identity of the person who claimed to be a top government official in the video.

“If the person who made comments accusing the intelligence agencies and army officers in the video clip aired on Channel 4 pretending to be a high-ranking official of the government, is currently holding a high position in the government, then the current government must take action against him for treason,” Gammanpila said. 

The former MP further urged the government to take the necessary steps concerning the information that has been disclosed on the Easter attacks, instead of responding with slander. 

This is the second special media briefing held by former Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila regarding the two reports related to the 2019 Easter attacks.

Last week, Gammanpila claimed that two investigation reports by the committees headed by retired Supreme Court Justices S.I. Imam and  A.N.J. de Alwis, appointed by the Ranil Wickremesinghe government, had not been released to the public.

Making his first revelation, the former MP disclosed information on the report by retired justice A.N.J. de Alwis, stating that the report recommends action against former senior Police officials Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekera, who currently hold high-ranking positions in the government.

Responding to this claim, Government Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath said the government has launched a comprehensive investigation into the 2019 Easter Attacks, including the two reports unveiled by former MP Udaya Gammanpila. (Newswire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a committee to investigate allegations by British media, “Channel-4” related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the Committee will be chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice S.I. Imam.

Retired Air Force Commander A.C.M. Jayalath Weerakkody & Harsha A.J. Soza PC are the other members of the Committee.

Publishing a video in September, ‘Channel 4’ said its dispatches have exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings.

Among the whistleblowers in the video is Azad Maulana, the former spokesman of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), the political party of State Minister of Rural Road Development Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan. 

Appearing in the ‘Channel 4’ video, Azad Maulana alleged that a meeting took place between Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim and the head of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sallay in the East, adding that he himself was present at the time of the meeting. 

Following the release of the video, State Minister Pillayan denied any links to the Easter Sunday attacks or the bombers saying such allegations are baseless.

Meanwhile, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, also called upon President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lankan government to initiate a comprehensive independent international investigation into the alleged plot behind the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

Cardinal Ranjith emphasised the need for a “free, impartial, just, transparent, and broad” investigation, which he insists should be conducted by an independent international team.

A central allegation made in the Channel 4 Video is that the Easter Sunday suicide bombings had been deliberately facilitated in order to create the conditions to get former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa elected to power in November 2019. 

Commenting on the allegations, Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the latest film by Chanel 4 is mostly an anti-Rajapaksa tirade aimed at blackening the Rajapaksa legacy from 2005 onwards and is a tissue of lies just like the previous films broadcast by the same Channel. 

He further said that to claim that a group of Islamic extremists launched suicide attacks in order to make him President, is absurd. (NewsWire)

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State Minister of Rural Road Development Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan today addressed in Parliament allegations of links to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

British media, Channel 4 yesterday released a video claiming that its Dispatches have exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings.

Among the whistleblowers is Azad Maulana, the former spokesman of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), Pillayan’s political party. 

Appearing in the Channel 4 video, Azad Maulana alleged that a meeting took place between Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim and the head of the State Intelligence Service Suresh Sallay in the East, adding that he himself was present at the time of the meeting. 

Commenting on the revelation, State Minister Pillayan denied any links to the Easter Sunday attacks or the bombers saying such allegations are baseless.

State Minister Pillayan further accused his former spokesman of telling lies in order to strengthen his claim for asylum overseas.

Speaking in Parliament today, the state minister said Azad Maulana had officially informed the TMVP and left Sri Lanka over a year ago along with his family over personal issues. 

Stating that Channel 4 has caused grave harm to Sri Lanka via its videos in the past as well, State Minister Pillayan said he has nothing to fear over the recently released documentary.

The state minister further said that he has doubts that Azad Maulana was attempting to safeguard religious, political, and social forces that had links to the attackers. 

He also pointed out that these allegations could be considered attempts by certain factions to destroy his party’s presence in the East. 

State Minister Pillayan also called for international assistance to investigate not only the allegations revealed on the Channel 4 video, but also investigate Azad Maulana over his claims.

“Such videos and allegations can result in causing instability in Sri Lanka once again,” he warned. (NewsWire)

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The government will conduct a fresh probe into the allegations made in the video published by Channel 4 on the 2019 easter Sunday attacks, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said. 

Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Nanyakkara said that during the Cabinet meeting held yesterday, it was proposed to appoint a Special Parliamentary Select Committee for this purpose.

Minister Nanayakkara further said that the government also discussed the need to obtain international assistance to investigate the claims and that the government will do so if necessary.

The minister assured that the government will never step back from addressing these allegations. 

“It is common practice for Channel 4 to publish such videos close to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions held in Geneva, he said, voicing his personal opinion. 

The minister added that however, he is of the opinion that the allegations in the video must definitely be investigated.

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara made the remarks in response to questions raised in Parliament over Channel 4’s claims.

Publishing its video today (Sep 05), Channel 4 said its Dispatches have exclusive interviews with high-placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings.

Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5shTmm4FoRk (NewsWire)

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