Easter Sunday “Suicide Bomber’s wife still at large”

By Yoshitha Perera

The Easter Sunday suicide bomber Mohamed Hasthun‘s spouse Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sarah Jesmine had stayed with the mastermind of the attack Zahran Hashim’s wife Abdul Cader Fathima Kadia from February to April 26, 2019, and that Fathima was well aware of Pulasthini’s whereabouts, Rajaratnam Kavitha the mother of Pulasthini, Rajaratnam  said while giving evidence to the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Testifying before the Commission,Kavitha informed that in July 29, 2015, her daughter had gone to Kalmunai to attend tuition classes and had not returned home. Kavitha informed the Commission that she was employed in Abu Dhabi at that time and,She had requested her mother to lodge a complaint with the Police regarding this matter.  
“My mother had filed a complaint at the Kalawanchikudy Police. However, on the same day the General Secretary of Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamaat (SLTJ) Abdul Razik had phoned my brother and informed him that Pulasthini was in their custody, He had also said that they will return her in one week,” the witness informed the Commission.    Kavitha said that she returned to the island soon after this incident and went to Abdul Razik’s office in Maligawatta, Colombo. “When I visited the SLTJ office in Maligawatta, I saw daughter Pulasthini dressed as a Muslim woman,” she said.   The witness had then proceeded to lodge a complaint with the Maligawatta Police.  Subsequently Abdul Razik and Pulasthini had been summoned to the Police Sation.  

“The police told me that Pulasthini should be handed over to Razik at the end of 15 days. They also told me that Pulasthini has to follow formalities in the Hindu religion. I took Pulasthini home and she acted in accordance with Hindu religion after returning home. However, at the end of day 15, Razik called me again and asked me to return the daughter or else he’ll take legal action against me,” Kavitha informed the Commission.   The Commissioners then questioned the witness whether she had explained to the Police that a mother has the right to a child, regardless of religion. Responding to the question the witness said the police had told her since Pulasthini was over 18 years old and she was free to make her own decisions.

• Pulasthini was over 18 years old and she was free to make her own decisions