Ravi and Shani inefficient?
President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena today (17th) told the Court of Appeal that a list of 129 individuals in this country, including Zaharan Hashim, who were acting in accordance with the ideology of the terrorist organization, had been submitted by the State Intelligence Service to the Criminal Investigation Department in January 2019, and that Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekara had failed to take proper action regarding it.
He made these allegations when a writ petition filed by Mr. Suresh Sale, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, who keeping under arrest by President of Sri Lanka Anura Disanayake, under so caled PTA which he uses at his convenience, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, was taken up for consideration again today.
Appearing for the petitioner, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena submitted to court:
“The Janak de Silva Commission report states that the State Intelligence Service had submitted a list of 129 followers of the National Thowheed Jamaath organization, including Zaharan Hashim who carried out the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, to the Criminal Investigation Department. The State Intelligence Service submitted this report on 31st January 2019.”
“That report included the names of individuals operating in this country according to the ideology of the terrorist organization.”
“Despite receiving a mass of information, what steps did the Criminal Investigation Department take to arrest them?”
“In addition, in 2018 the Pakistani Intelligence had also warned the security agencies of this country that a group involved in Islamic extremist activities was operating in Sri Lanka.”
The President’s Counsel raised the question:
“Despite receiving so much information, why did the respondents not take steps to arrest the suspects including Zaharan Hashim?”
He further questioned how the then Senior Deputy Inspector General and Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, who had acted so irresponsibly, could now be conducting investigations into his client.
“In an affidavit submitted by the then Director of the State Intelligence Service, Mr. Nilantha Jayawardena, in connection with a case, it was stated that from 31st October 2017 until the time of the attacks, 97 reports on extremist activities carried out and planned to be carried out by Zaharan Hashim and his followers had been submitted to the Inspector General of Police. It also stated that copies had been forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department.”
“In addition, the connection between Zaharan and his followers was revealed in incidents such as the Mawanella Buddha statue vandalism and the discovery of explosives in Wanathawilluwa. An officer of the State Intelligence Service, Konara Bandara, had also provided information about suspected hideout locations.”
“That officer had once told a commission that if the Criminal Investigation Department had acted, the Easter attacks would not have happened,” the President’s Counsel stated.
“On 4th April 2019, the Indian RAW intelligence informed this country that followers of the National Thowheed Jamaath organization led by Zaharan were planning to carry out an attack. The then Director of the State Intelligence Service, Mr. Nilantha Jayawardena, had forwarded copies of this to the Inspector General of Police and to the Criminal Investigation Department.”
“That letter was sent to the office of the then Senior DIG of the CID, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, on 9th April 2019. However, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne forwarded it to Deputy Inspector General Nagahawatte of the CID only on 16th April 2019. The DIG forwarded it to the Director on 22nd April. That is, the day after the attack.”
“In this regard, the then Senior DIG of the CID, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, had given a statement to the Janak de Silva Commission. He stated that he had gone abroad on 7th April 2019 to attend a conference and returned to Sri Lanka on 13th April. He also stated that he reported for duty again on 16th April. The letter had left his office only on the 19th.”
“He stated before the Commission that the CID was already aware at that time of the activities of the extremist group including Zaharan Hashim mentioned in that letter. ‘There was no action the CID could take regarding this, Your Lordship,’ Mr. Ravi Seneviratne told the Commission,”_ alleged President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, and questioned how such persons could be conducting the current investigation into the Easter attacks.
The Court ordered that further consideration of the petition be postponed until the 21st July 2026.
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