Arrest of DIG Silva undermined investigations to apprehend Zahran

• Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara testifies that Silva’s arrest hampered TID investigations on Zahran 

Arresting the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Director Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nalaka Silva on conspiracy charges badly affected the investigations which were underway on Islamic extremism, which could

Public Administration, Disaster Management Minister  Ranjith Madduma Bandara

have helped to prevent the attacks, former Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) yesterday.

Testifying before the PSC, Public Administration, Disaster Management and Livestock Development Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara confirmed that investigators were closing in on National Thowheed Jamath leader Zahran Hashim and its members when the arrest of DIG Silva effectively derailed those efforts. 

“DIG Silva and the TID were closely monitoring Zahran Hashim and the NTJ. After DIG Silva was arrested, the TID could not carry out their investigations properly. The TID operations were hampered. 

The TID made many arrests with regard to Zahran’s group. They could not arrest only two members.  If necessary, Zahran and his allies could have been arrested under the provisions of the ICCPR Act,” he confirmed. 

(AH)