President denies he was informed of terror attacks

Friday, 31 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena being greeted upon his arrival in New Delhi by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Austin Fernando. President Sirisena is in India to attend the swearing in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

President Maithripala Sirisena has denied that he was informed about the Easter Sunday attacks in advance, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

Given below is the full statement by the media division. There were media reports of a statement made by the Head of the National Intelligence Service, while giving evidence at the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to look into 21 April terrorist attacks.

The media reports stated that the National Security Council did not meet after the month of February 2019.

As there were media reports appearing unofficially on the proceedings of the NSC, it was decided to establish an NSC with a new format, and this has been in operation for more than one year. The new NSC has been meeting every two weeks and, on some occasions the President has convened the meetings of the NSC every week.

Furthermore, on 8 April 2019, the President has convened the monthly meeting of the Inspector General of Police and senior police officers. This meeting was held for more than two hours, and none of the police officers informed the President that advance reports on a possible terrorist attack had been received.

Neither the Defence Secretary, Inspector General of Police, nor any other officer had informed the President about a warning letter received from a friendly foreign country about the impending 21 April terrorist attacks.

Hence, the President states that the media reports claiming that the President had been informed about the impending attack were absolutely false.