State Intel. Director never informed Zahran must be arrested - Ruwan

PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks

By Yoshitha Perera   

At the Intelligence Coordination Meetings in which I participated, former State Intelligence Director, SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena never informed that National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim should be arrested, UNP Deputy Leader and former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday told the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks. 

Mr. Wijewardene made the following statement, while responding to a question posed by a Commissioner.   

However, a representative from the Attorney General’s (AG) Department showed several documents, which were shared by the former SIS Director to take necessary action to arrest Zahran.   

After referring to those documents, witness said that he could not recall anything about the arrest of Zahran being discussed at the Intelligence Coordination Meetings.   

Mr. Wijewardene also said he was not invited to Intelligence Coordination Meetings during the period between December 2018 and April 23, 2019.   Witness added at the National Security Council (NSC) meetings and Intelligence Review Meetings, there were issues between former SIS Director and former TID Director Nalaka Silva.