By Darshana Abayasingha

Sri Lanka’s largest pasta manufacturing facility, Diamond Pasta Limited, which is located in Minuwangoda, was destroyed during the violence on Monday night.

Speaking to the Daily FT, the company’s management stated that though Police was called to control the situation, only ten officers had arrived at the scene, and they had been unable to contain the unruly mob, which had numbered well over 200.

“The factory is completely decimated, there is nothing to be recovered. Seven employees were inside the factory at the time of the attack, and they barely made it out with their lives, but they are safe now,” they added.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Largest Pasta Manufacturing Facility Diamond Pasta Ltd in Minuwangoda Totally Destroyed By Mob Numbering Over 200 on Monday Night: Damages Estimated at Over 700 Million Rupees for Muslim Owned Company with Largely Sinhala Employees.’ »

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday denied that he had used political influence to get several suspects released from the Hettipola police station, insisting his intervention was only to calm a rapidly escalating situation.

Jayasekera told reporters at SLFP party headquarters that he was informed of a large group of people gathering around the Hettipola police station on Monday morning, while he was holding a public day in his electorate.

Continue reading ‘SLFP Gen -Secy Dayasiri Jayasekera MP Says he only Got Six Arrested Persons Transferred from Hettipola to Bingiriya Police Station To Resist Mob Pressure and That Were Later Released Due to an “Independent” Decision taken by the Police.’ »

By Divya Thotawatte

Anglican Bishop of Colombo Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey yesterday called on authorities to take strong action to prevent mob violence, and warned that failure to do so will only expand rifts between the majority and minority communities in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the media, Canagasabey stated that the Government should act without fear while enforcing the law strictly and impartially, to safeguard the life and property of each individual of the country. He also urged the Police and armed forces to not be influenced by vested political agendas.

“I appeal to the Police and armed forces to act according to your conscience, and be true to yourself, and do not be led by the negative emotions of people intent on creating chaos,” he stated.

Continue reading ‘Anglican Bishop of Colombo Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey Wants Govt to Safeguard Life and Property of Each Individual in the Country While Urging Police and Armed forces Not to be Influenced by Vested Political Agendas.’ »

The family of M.S. Fouzul Ameen (49) is in shock. The well-to-do furniture shop owner from Kottaramulla in Nattandiya fell victim to a mob attack on Monday night, passing away at the Marawila Hospital, having sustained serious cut injuries to his neck and face.

M.S. Fouzul Ameen’s national identity card held by one of his sons
After his family laid him to rest yesterday afternoon amidst tight security at the local cemetery, friends and relatives gathered around to console his wife and four young children, aged between 16 to six years.

Continue reading ‘49 Year Old Furniture Shop Owner MS Fouzul Ameen From Kottaramulla in Nattandiya Succumbs to Injuries Inflicted by a Sword -Wielding Gang and Passes Away at Marawila Hospital’ »

The software engineer suspected by authorities of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects, Reuters reported on Tuesday quoting investigators.

Four sources in Sri Lankan investigating agencies had said they believed 24-year-old Aadhil Ameez was the link between two groups that carried out the attacks on churches and hotels.

Aadhil has been arrested and is in police custody, the sources said.

His arrest has not been made public, but when asked by Reuters, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera had confirmed that Aadhil was taken into custody on April 25, four days after the attacks.

The spokesman had declined to give more details.

Continue reading ‘24 Year old Aadhil Ameez the Software Engineer From Aluthgama Who Called Himself “Aadhil Ax” Arrested by Police is Suspected of Providing Logistical and Technological Support to the Easter Sunday Suicide Bombers’ »

The head of the Catholic church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, told newspersons here on Tuesday, that the clashes in the North-Western Provinces have no religious nuances and that the attacks on Muslim properties appear to have been carried out by political and not religious elements.

“What we see is more a political crisis where certain political parties and their agents at the base level have run out of control and they go and attack these people unnecessarily. I don’t think there are religious nuances,” the Cardinal said.

The Catholics of Sri Lanka, even those in Negombo where they are in sizeable numbers, have been quiet following the Cardinal’s appeal not to retaliate or take the law into their hands after eight suicide bombers, belonging to the National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) and the Jamaathei Millathu Ibrahimi (JMI) attacked three churches and three hotels in the island on April 21 killing 253 persons, mostly Catholics attending the Easter Mass.

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Denies Catholic Involvement in North Western Province Anti-Muslim Violence and says “Certain political parties and their agents at the base level have run out of control and they go and attack these people unnecessarily”’ »

(Text of a Statement Issued by the NCEASL on the Recent Violence Against Muslim Communities)

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka ( NCEASL) is deeply saddened by the ongoing attacks on Muslim communities in Kurunegala, Gampaha, and the Puttalam districts.

The violent mob attacks targeting mosques, Muslim owned-businesses and homes have left our country in a state of shock and polarized communities further.

The violence unleashed by extremist elements upon our own citizens is abhorrent, atrocious, and worthy of condemnation in the strongest possible manner by all peace-loving people of Sri Lanka.

We are extremely troubled that some of the incidents were reportedly perpetrated by mobs during police curfew.

We call upon the government, therefore, to carry out a thorough investigation into the attacks.

Continue reading ‘Christian Evangelical Alliance Calls Upon Govt to Take Urgent Action to Stop and Prevent Mob Attacks on Mosques , Muslim Owned Businesses and Homes’ »

By
Meera Srinivasan

On Monday afternoon, mobs unleashed sustained violence on a group of villages in Kurunegala district in the island’s North-Western Province, damaging several mosques in the area.

A 45-year-old man, who ran a timber store, died of stab injuries, even as two busloads of people, aided by local goons, carried out raging attacks on mosques, Muslim-owned shops and homes on May 13 at Kurunegala in Sri Lanka.

This is the worst outbreak of violence since the Easter bombings in the island nation.

“The fact that the mobs arrived in buses showed that these attacks were planned,” said Hilmy Ahmed, vice-president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella body of Muslim civil society organisations. “It was very much like the previous instances of anti-Muslim attacks,” he told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Continue reading ‘Amith Weerasinghe of “Mahason Balakaya” Who was Suspected Of Having Incited Violence against Muslims in Digana Last Year Arrested Again by Police for Questioning About Alleged Complicity On -Going Anti-Muslim Violence’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

On Monday afternoon, mobs unleashed sustained violence on a group of villages in Kurunegala district in the island’s North Western Province, damaging several mosques in the area.

At least two busloads of people, aided by local goons, carried out raging attacks on mosques, Muslim-owned shops and homes on May 13 in Kurunegala, according to locals. This is the worst outbreak of violence since the Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

A 45-year-old Muslim man, who ran a timber store, succumbed to stab injuries.

“The fact that the mobs arrived in buses showed that these attacks were planned,” said Hilmy Ahmed, vice-president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella body of Muslim civil society organisations. “It was very much like the previous instances of anti-Muslim attacks,” he told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Continue reading ‘Two Bus Loads of Outsiders Aided by Local Goons Engage in Sustained Anti-Muslim Violence in Kurunegala District; Two Suspects Linked to Earlier Aluthgama and Digana Attacks on Muslims Seen in the Vicinity; Dayasiri Jayasekera Allegedly Freed Six Suspects Arrested by Police?’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Mobs attacked several mosques, torched dozens of shops and homes of Muslims in Kurunegala, some 100 km north-west of capital Colombo, on Monday, in the biggest outbreak of violence since the April 21 Easter serial bombings.

A police curfew, initially imposed in six villages in the district, was later extended to cover the entire island until Tuesday morning, amid fears of the attacks spreading.

The government blocked social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook, following the violence. Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake told local media that troops would not hesitate to use “maximum force” to contain the tense situation.

The incidents point to an escalation of violence targeting Sri Lanka’s Muslim community, following the Easter terror attacks that the government had attributed to two local Islamist radical groups. The IS, too, had later claimed responsibility for the explosions that claimed over 250 lives in in Colombo, nearby Negombo and the Eastern city of Batticaloa.

Continue reading ‘Mosques, Muslim Owned Homes and Businesses Attacked in Kuliyapitiya, Kobeigane, Rasnayakapura, Hettipola, Bingiriya and Dummalasuriya in Kurunegala District: Mobs on Motor Cycles Reportedly Moving From Place to Place’ »

Sri Lanka has partially lifted an overnight curfew imposed nationwide after an upsurge in anti-Muslim violence, three weeks after the deadly Easter Sunday bombings.

The curfew in the North-Western province will remain until further notice, police said.

Mosques and Muslim-owned shops have been vandalised or set on fire, and one Muslim man has been slashed to death.

In several towns, police fired into the air and used tear gas to disperse mobs.

Tensions have been high since Islamist militants attacked churches and hotels on Easter Sunday, killing more than 250 people.

In a televised address, Police Chief Chandana Wickramaratne warned that officers would respond to rioters with maximum force.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also appealed for calm in the early hours of Monday, saying the current unrest was hampering the investigation into last month’s attacks.

Continue reading ‘“We can see many places where the curfew has been announced. The army is on the streets with guns, but they don’t take any action against the violence,” -Muslim Businessman Tells BBC.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

As mob violence escalated yesterday, the Government clamped down imposing an island wide curfew and blocked social media sites as clashes erupted across three districts and the Government appealed for calm.

As security forces struggled to contain the communal violence which started on Sunday night in several localities in Kurunegala area, the Police took steps to impose an islandwide curfew from 9 p.m. last night.

“Shops have been attacked today as well, as it continued, we have imposed police curfew over the whole North-Central Province until further notice,” SSP Ruwan Gunasekara said in a statement released by the Information Department.

Arrest of three men has triggered off tension in Kuliyapitiya on Sunday with the Police giving into the demand to release them. Violence continued with curfew being imposed in Kuliyapitiya and Dummalasuriya Police areas on Sunday night.

Continue reading ‘Muslim Community Fearful as Violence Escalates in Kurunegala District: Police Arrest Three Men in Kuliyapitiya but Cave in to Pressure and Release Them’ »

Concerns over state of governance were raised yesterday in political circles with President Maithripala Sirisena leaving to China on an official visit leading to the cancellation of today’s Cabinet meeting, putting off key decisions when the country is in a state of emergency post-Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Continue reading ‘State of Governance in Sri Lanka Faces Growing Crisis in the Face of Rising Organized Anti-Muslim Violence While President Sirisena Goes off to China Cancelling Cabinet Meeting.’ »

Text of a Press Release Issued by the Tamil National alliance on May 14th 2019 on reports of Mob violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka )

The Tamil National Alliance is deeply concerned by reports of mobs attacking Muslim homes, businesses and Mosques in several villages over the last two days. It is particularly concerning to hear of reports of such attacks taking place during curfew, with security forces not taking effective steps to stop the violence.

Continue reading ‘TNA Expresses Deep Concern Over Mob Attacks on Muslim Homes,Businesses and Mosques in Several Villages Reportedly Taking Place During Curfew Hours With Security Forces not Taking Effective Steps to Stop the Violence.’ »

Hollywood legend Doris Day, whose films made her one of the biggest stars of all time, has died aged 97.

The singer turned actress starred in films such as Calamity Jane and Pillow Talk and had a hit in 1956 with Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be).

Her screen partnership with Rock Hudson is one of the best-known in the history of romantic movies.

In a statement, the Doris Day Animal Foundation said she died on Monday at her home in Carmel Valley, California.

It said she had been “in excellent physical health for her age, until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia”.

“She was surrounded by a few close friends as she passed,” the statement continued.

Continue reading ‘Hollywood Screen Legend Doris Day Whose Screen Partnership With Rock Hudson Was One of the Best in Romantic Movie History Dies at the age of 97.’ »

Doris Day was the fresh-faced, all-American girl who became one of the world’s most bankable film stars.

Her glittering singing career included timeless classics like Whip Crack Away, Qué Será Será and Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.

On screen, the wholesome, girl-next-door never failed to find love. Off screen, she could not have had less luck: she married four times. One of them beat her and another one robbed her.

Later in life, she suffered the agony of watching her beloved only child die of an untreatable tumour. She retreated to a house in California, surrounding herself with animals and campaigning for their welfare.

‘Age is just a number’

Doris Mary Ann Von Kappelhoff came into the world in Cincinnati, Ohio – the descendant of German immigrants – in April 1922.

But for decades, she would insist she was actually born in 1924. In 2018, her birth certificate was dug out of the state Office of Vital Statistics to settle the dispute.

She was wrong, but shrugged it off.

“I’ve always said that age is just a number,” she said. “I’ve never paid much attention to birthdays.”

Continue reading ‘Actress -Singer Doris Day Will Be Remembered Forever For The Famous Song “Que Sera Sera “(Whatever Will be,Will be)She Sang on the Alfred Hitchcock Film “The Man Who Knew Too Much”.’ »

By a Special Correspondent

The main suspect in the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008, Major Prabath Bulathwatte, who also led the shadowy military intelligence unit suspected to have been behind the 2009 murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, has been restored to active service, Army Commander Lt. Gen Mahesh Senanayake said.

Making the shocking revelations during a television interview aired on Saturday night, Army Chief Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake claimed that side-lining Bulathwatte had resulted in intelligence setbacks after the interviewer revealed details that the terrorist behind the Easter Sunday bombings, Mohammed Zaharan, had been on the intelligence officer’s radar.

The interviewer claimed that Bulathwatte’s services had not been availed of, since the officer had been side-lined.

“You are right. At that time, such a thing happened. Since this incident, he has been put on duty in a special team that functions directly under me,” the Army Commander replied.

Continue reading ‘Major Bulathwatte who Commanded the Tripoli Military Intelligence Platoon Allegedly Responsible for Assassinations, Abductions and Attacks on Journalists During Rajapaksa Regime Recalled to Active Service in “Special Unit” Directly Under Army Chief Lt.Gen Mahesh Senanayake’ »

By Norman Palihawadana

The slow reaction by Chilaw police to disperse a crowd that had gathered near a Thowheed Jamath prayer centre in Wattakkuliya, Chilaw resulted in unrest and property damage yesterday.

Earlier a group of youth had informed the Chilaw Police that some persons were inside the prayer centre that had been abandoned some time back.

Since the police did not arrive there to investigate the complaint, the crowd had attacked the prayer centre, damaging it, an eyewitness said.

Continue reading ‘Crowd Attacks and Damages Thowheed Jamath Prayer Centre at Wattakkuliya in Chilaw Because Police Arrive Late To Investigate Their Complaint About Persons Inside; Army Disperses Mob by Firing Shots in the Air.’ »

By
Shihar Aneez, Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Several dozen people threw stones at mosques and Muslim-owned stores and a local man was beaten in the town of Chilaw on Sri Lanka’s west coast on Sunday in a dispute that started on Facebook, sources told Reuters.

Three weeks ago in Sri Lanka Islamist bombers blew themselves up in four hotels and three churches, killing more than 250 people. Since then Muslim groups say they have received dozens of complaints from across the country about people being harassed.

“A police curfew has been imposed in Chilaw Police area with immediate effect until 6 a.m. tomorrow to control the tense situation,” police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters. The police later said the curfew would be lifted at 4 a.m.

Continue reading ‘Mobs Throw Stones at Three Mosques and Some Muslim -Owned Shops in Coastal Town of Chilaw Allegedly Provoked by Wrong Understanding of a Facebook Posting in English by a Muslim Businessman:Curfew Imposed Overnight and Lifted in Morning.’ »

By Rohantha De Silva

The US exploited last month’s terrorist bomb attacks in Sri Lanka to immediately dispatch Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials and military intelligence experts to Colombo under the pretext of assisting investigations. More than 250 people, including about 50 foreigners, died in the April 21 suicide bombings of Christian churches and upmarket Colombo hotels.

US President Donald Trump and the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo telephoned Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe offering condolences and promising assistance. The real concern of the US leaders, however, was not the killing of innocent people, but to use the crisis to boost its military and political relations with Colombo as part of its preparations in the Indo-Pacific for war against China.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Colombo told the Daily Mirror that an FBI team arrived in Sri Lanka two days after the attack and declared that “once the present investigations were over, the two sides would look at future cooperation.”

Continue reading ‘Washington Exploits Terrorist Violence Crisis in Sri Lanka to Strengthen Politico-Military relations With Colombo as Part of its Preparation for the Indo-Pacific War Against China’ »

By

World Socialist Web Site Correspondents

The Sri Lankan government has unleashed a crackdown, mainly targeting Muslims, following the horrific April 21 bomb attacks on three Catholic churches and three hotels that killed more than 250 men, women and children, and injured some 500 more.

The government immediately seized upon the attack to impose draconian emergency regulations and deploy thousands of security and police officers. The opposition parties and the media have aligned themselves with the government’s campaign.

The fact that the attack was apparently carried out by the Islamic fundamentalist ISIS, in coordination with the Sri Lankan Muslim extremist group, Thowheeth Jamma’ath, is being used to whip up anti-Muslim sentiment.

President Maithripala Sirisena declared that under the emergency laws, house-to-house checks would be carried out, similar to the operations conducted during Colombo’s communal war against separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Hundreds of people have been arrested, with many later released. On Monday, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said 73 persons had been detained and were under police interrogation.

Continue reading ‘Security Crackdown in Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday Attacks by ISIS and Thowheed Jamath Turns into an Anti-Muslim Witch – hunt’ »

By Anbarasan Ethirajan

For many Sri Lankans, it was a horrific shock to learn that local Muslims could have been behind the suicide attacks that killed more than 250 people last month. How could a small group have planned such a devastating wave of bombings undetected?

The clues were there in mid-January, when Sri Lankan police stumbled upon 100kg (220lb) of explosives and 100 detonators, hidden in a coconut grove near the Wilpattu national park, which is a remote wilderness in Puttalam district on the west coast of the country.

Police were investigating attacks on statues of the Buddha by suspected Islamist radicals elsewhere in the country. Four men from a newly formed “radical Muslim group” were arrested.

Three months later, suspected Islamists blew themselves up in packed churches and hotels in Colombo, Negombo and the eastern city of Batticaloa killing more than 250 people, including 40 foreigners.

But that arms seizure in the coconut grove was not an isolated incident. It was just one of several suspicious incidents in the months leading up to the bombings that should have rung alarm bells, especially given reports that several Sri Lankans who had joined the Islamic State group in Syria were back home.

It didn’t.

We now know the carnage on Easter Sunday happened despite repeated warnings about potential attacks from intelligence services in neighbouring India and the US.

Continue reading ‘Family Networks Were Key Components of the Islamist Organization That Blasted Churches and Tourist Hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.’ »

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is receiving complaints from Muslims about widespread harassment tied to “cultural misunderstandings, stereotyping and insensitivities to a way of life,” said Deepika Udagama, its Chairperson, this week.

The whole Muslim community was being branded for acts of terrorism perpetrated by a few amongst them, Dr Udagama said, adding that the harassment was mainly around the dress of women.

On April 29, the President, under the Public Security Ordinance, gazetted regulations prohibiting wearing “any garment, clothing or such other material concealing the full face which will in any manner cause any hindrance to the identification of a person” in public. “Full face” was defined as “the whole face of a person including the ears”. The niqab and the burka fall within this scope.

“We hope that full face helmets also come within the ambit of this emergency regulation,” Dr Udagama said. “We don’t see a problem with that, because during a period of heightened security concerns, people ought to be able to establish identity and the authorities need to be able to get that done quickly, without hindrance.”

Continue reading ‘Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Concerned Over Reports of Muslims Being Harassed and Discriminated Against Due to ” Stereotyping, Insensitivity and Cultural Misunderstandings” After Easter Sunday Attacks.’ »

By Namini Wijedasa

The Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry has presented to the Government a bill called the Madrasa Education Regulatory Act that seeks to set up a Board with powers of regulation, registration, supervision, control and development of education within Madrasas in Sri Lanka.

The Sunday Times obtained a copy of the draft which is seen as a move towards addressing a longstanding vacuum in Madrasa regulation. The Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department said this week that there were 1,675 Quran Madrasas across 24 districts in the country.

The only district without one is Kilinochchi, which also does not have Arabic Colleges or Ahadiya (Sunday) schools. The highest number of 344 is in the Ampara district, followed by Colombo which has 161 and Batticaloa 148. Arabic colleges are also most numerous in the Ampara district, with 42, followed by Puttalam with 38 and Kandy 28.

Continue reading ‘Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Drafts Madrasa Education Regulatory Act to set up a Board with powers of regulation, registration, supervision, control and development of education within Madrasas in Sri Lanka’ »

by Sanjana Hattotuwa

I posted on Facebook this week a rough comparison between New Zealand’s response to terrorism in Christchurch and Sri Lanka’s response to the Easter Sunday attacks, a month after. Fleshing this out and placing it for wider consideration amongst an older demographic, possible through this column, may help kickstart what Martin Luther King Jnr in 1963 called the ‘fierce urgency of now’ to highlight the importance of civil and basic human rights.

The country is moving rapidly, almost inexorably, to the right. The hawks are happy and the populists, salivating. Mob violence in Negombo on Monday, the true nature and extent of which wasn’t fully captured in domestic media, captures a country on edge, even though the PM proclaimed that normalcy had returned. The whole country is combustible and it is unclear what exactly may spark violence or when. A traffic accident, sporting a surgical mask, a colour worn, single sentence, intonation of a word, signboard, looking at someone, looking away from someone, beard, place of worship, patronising a shop, seeing a name, renting a room or house, altercation, a private feud, personal jealousy or hidden hatred now find a febrile, fertile context, islandwide, for digital expression, rapid expansion or kinetic escalation.

Given all this, is our response to terrorism inevitable and justified? Is there another way, an alternative model?

Continue reading ‘“The Fierce Urgency of Now”: Comparing New Zealand’s Response to Christchurch Terrorism and Sri Lanka’s Response to the Easter Sunday Attacks.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

With the shadow of tragedy looming over a still stunned nation in the wake of the Easter Sunday atrocities, there is a curiously stark contrast at play in Sri Lanka. Even as politicians shriek, lie and pontificate for partisan advantage, the triumph of the human spirit soars above this ugly cacaphony.

Buddhist priests in vivid yellow robes join in sweeping the debris within the precincts of the devastated Katuwapitiya Church, a mosque offers its halls for Catholics to hold prayers and in Katukelle, Kandy, the Jumma Mosque hosts monks to preach to its afflicted congregation who thereafter contribute to a fund for agonised innocents to whom horror in the shape of a young man wearing a suicide bomb came suddenly out of a clear blue morning on the holiest of days.

Meeting difficult challenges ahead of us

These are the inspiring images that Sri Lankans must resolutely keep in mind as difficult challenges arise ahead of us. With the dawning of the third week since the attacks took place, Sri Lanka’s Muslims are insidiously and sullenly withdrawing into themselves in fear, dreading racial profiling in security searches and increasing abuse leveled by zenophobists and racists.

While strong community and religious leadership is important, soothing words have their limits when the public is gripped by overriding anxious tension as to where the next bomb will explode or when the next attack will take place. The Government’s rhetoric must yeld to concrete operation of the law against protectors of islamist radicalisation, not its foot soldiers, bomb carriers and tiffin bearers.

Yet there is no end, it seems, to ingenious ‘games’ of politicians while ordinary life in Sri Lanka remains largely paralysed by fear.

Continue reading ‘Even as Politicians Shriek, Lie and Pontificate for Partisan Advantage After The Easter Sunday Attacks, the Triumph of the Human Spirit Soars Above this Ugly Cacaphony in Sri Lanka’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

The Government Printer is yet to issue gazette notifications proscribing two extremist organizations responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage.

Well informed sources told The Island that the Government Press was yet to receive the go ahead in this regard.
Continue reading ‘Though Presidential Secretariat Announced Banning of the National Thawheedh Jamaath and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim After Easter Attacks No Instructions Given to Govt Press Yet To Publish Gazette Proclamation’ »

By Bishop Duleep de Chickera

The worship had just reached the Anamnesis, the affirmation of God’s intervention in history, when the police arrived. The officer was courteous but firm. The service had to be terminated and the people dispersed. Beyond this he remained tight lipped.

Pictures on people’s smart phones said the rest. Unbelievable scenes of death and havoc were to change all expectations of Easter harmony for Sri Lankans.

Responsible but subdued

When it became known that an extremist Islamist group was responsible, Muslim leaders responded promptly. They dissociated the wider community from the National Thowheeth Jama’ath, and then disclosed what only a few knew. Information on the group had been divulged to state authorities, as far back as 2014.

The bombings also subdued the Muslim community. A journalist travelling through Muslim areas reported on the visible absence of Muslims throughout a six hour journey. The same is true of Colombo and its suburbs. It is as if the Muslim part of the Sri Lankan whole, has suddenly shrunk.

This is perhaps what certain nationalist elements wanted when they began to contest Muslim identity soon after the end of the war in 2009.

Beginning with objections to halal food on the shelves, the campaign spread to public incitement and sporadic attacks on mosques and prayer centres, businesses, shops and residences in different parts of the country. In spite of public outrage, very little has been done to prosecute the perpetrators. The mobs that spread carnage were at times led by men in the venerated yellow robe.

Continue reading ‘Failure to Understand Distinctions Between Exclusivism , Extremism and Terrorism May Lead to Wrong Stereo-typing of a Whole Community and Unfairly Hold it Responsible for the Actions of Some.’ »

The Sri Lankan government on Friday ordered mosques to clamp down on extremists and to submit copies of sermons in new fallout from the Easter suicide bombings that left 258 dead.

The country has been on edge since the April 21 attacks by jihadist bombers who attacked three churches and three Colombo hotels which also left 500 people injured.

The Ministry of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs said mosques must not be used for radicalising congregations.

“In view of the prevailing situation in the country, the ministry directs all trustees of mosques not to engage in or permit any gathering to promote or propagate hatred or extremism in any form,” the ministry said.

Continue reading ‘Govt Orders all Mosques in Sri Lanka Not to Promote or Propagate Hatred and Extremism in any Form and to Submit Copies of all Sermons to Muslim Religious Cultural Affairs Ministry.’ »

By
Shavini Madhara

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the Batticaloa Prison Authority to bring the sister of the Thawheed Jamaath Leader Zahran Mohammed Hashim to the Colombo Judicial Specialist Medical Officer to verify the DNA test to determine the identity of the Suicide bomber, who carried out the bomb blast at Shangri-la Hotel.

CID also stated that they had revealed the suicide bombing took place at Shangri-la Hotel was carried out by Zahran Mohommad Hashim and Mohommad Ibrahim Ilham Ahamed. CID stated that the sister of Zahran Hahsim, Mohommed Kaseem Madaniya is currently detained in Batticaloa prison.

Continue reading ‘Identities of Shangri – La Suicide Bombers to be Confirmed Through DNA Tests of Zahran Hashim’s Sister and Ibrahim Ilham’s Father and Brothers.’ »

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader and Industry and Commerce Minister, Rishad Bathiudeen said were attempts to accuse him falsely regarding his recent visit to Oman and incidents that took place recently, but that he was prepared to face them and prove his innocence.

In a statement issued to the media he said, “Various people made allegations against me saying I ran away from Sri Lanka when I went recently for official work. Some people and media made these allegations.

They made the allegations without checking the facts about this tour. With some other Ministers in Oman, we discussed about multi-billion rupee projects for Sri Lanka with Omani government officials. After I returned from Oman, they stopped the allegations. They also aimed other allegations at me and these allegation were so dangerous and insulting I had questioned certain media institutions as to why they are identifying myself with terrorists.

Continue reading ‘ACMC Leader and Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen Issues Statement Refuting Allegations Made Against Him and Re-iterating his Innocence.’ »

By

Shehan Chamika Silva

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today allowed the prosecution to obtain a DNA report using a blood sample obtained from Zahran Hashim’s daughter for the investigators to confirm the identity of the Shangri-La Hotel suicide bomber.

The CID also informed the Court that two suicide bombers who blasted themselves at the Shangri-La Hotel had stayed at houses in Templers Road, Mount Lavinia and Kollupitiya prior to the attack.

Continue reading ‘Court Sanctions Prosecution to Obtain DNA Report Using Blood Samples of Zahran Hashim’s Daughter to Confirm the Identity of Suicide Bomber who Targeted Shangri-La Hotel.’ »

By

Lakshmi Subramanian

AS DEFENCE SECRETARY in his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, Gotabaya Rajapaksa played a ruthless role in wiping out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which had waged a civil war for three decades in Sri Lanka. A few days after the terror attacks on Easter Sunday, THE WEEK met Gotabaya in his small bungalow in Nugegoda near Colombo. Putting aside the book The Future is Asian by Parag Khanna which he was reading, he spoke on the return of terrorism and on his determination to become the country’s president.

Excerpts:

Q;
What do you have to say about the Easter attacks?

A;
It is very sad and shocking. Especially so for me, as I was one of the leading personalities responsible for ending the war. I never thought Sri Lanka would witness [such] a violent incident after 2009.

Q;
Mahinda Rajapaksa said this would not have happened if he were in power.

A;
For the Rajapaksa government, the top priority was national security. Every time there was a threat, we took action to identify the threat to prevent this type of [attacks]. After ending the war in 2009, we had to act differently to identify the threat. We did that. We found there were [remnants] of the LTTE, which could regroup, reorganise and restart their campaign. Then we saw the radical Islam group as a potential threat. We worked towards preventing it. And then the next threat was drugs.

Q;
What would you have done if you were the current defence secretary?

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Tells Indian Magazine “The Week” That He Will Run for President and That Him Being a Dual Citizen Wont be a Hinderance Because He Has Renounced His US Citizenship’ »

By Saman Indrajith

State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene told Parliament, yesterday, that the government would hold an investigation to find out how son of Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hisbullah had secured shares amounting to 500 million rupees in the proposed Sharia University in Batticaloa. The University is a gift from Saudi Arabia.

President Maithripala Sirisena in January this year appointed Hisbullah Eastern Province Governor. At the time of his latest political appointment, Hisbullah was a National List MP of the UPFA.

The State Minister said so in response to a question raised by Ratnapura District UNP MP Hesha Withanage who pointed out that obtaining shares from a fund received as a grant was dubious.

MP Withanage: The people are talking about the Sharia University under construction in Batticaloa. Eastern Province Governor Hisbullah’s son has obtained shares worth Rs 500 million from the university.

Continue reading ‘State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene Tells Parliament That Govt Will Investigate How Eastern Province Governor MLAM Hisbullah’s Son Got 500 Million Rupees Worth of Shares in the Proposed Saudi Arabia Financed Sharia University in Batticaloa.’ »

By

Sandun A Jayasekera

Former Minister and joint opposition stalwart S.B.Dissanayaka continuing his verbal battle with Commerce and Industries Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday said the government had ample evidence to arrest minister Bathiudeeen and a team of joint opposition members including him would urge President Maithripala Sirisena to direct law enforcement authorities to arrest him immediately.

“We have information to prove that he has had close contacts with members of the National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) and also that he has helped them in their destructive operations. Therefore, we would make a representation to request President Sirisena as the Minister of Defence and Law and Order to take steps arrest Minister Bathiudeen,” Mr. Dissanayaka said.

Mr. Dissanayaka pointed out that the US conspiracies against Middle Eastern countries like Syria, Iraq and Libya followed with the regime change has inspired the rise of Muslim fundamentalism entities like IS that ultimately resulted Sri Lanka becoming a target for vengeance.

Continue reading ‘SB Dissanayaka Urges President Sirisena to Arrest Minister Rishad Bathiudeen For Allegedly Having Close Contacts With National Thowheed Jamath Members and Helping Them in Destructive Activities.’ »

By

Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

President Maithripala Sirisena had been informed of the recent terrorist attack at the Security Council (SC) for more than 15 times but he had nodded off the repeated warnings, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said today.

He told parliament that those who had participated at the SC had confirmed the fact that the President was informed of the imminent disaster but he had not given any instruction and nodded it off. He said it was unreasonable to pass the buck to others after the calamity.

“It is unreasonable to remove the IGP. It is a disgrace to the uniform,” he said.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena was Informed of Possible Terrorist Attacks at Least 15 times at National Security Council Meetings But Simply “Nodded” Without Taking Necessary Action Says Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

UNP MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, yesterday, told Parliament that he had opposed fielding Maithripala Sirisena as the common candidate against Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2015 presidential election as he had realised Sirisena’s inability to handle national security.

“I was dead against him. It was Chandrika Bandaranaike who brought this Kodivina (voodoo). I also correctly predicted that he would assume the SLFP leadership after his winning. However, it was a collective decision and we had to work for his victory,” Field Marshal Fonseka said, participating in the two day debate on current security situation in the country.

“We still have not neutralised the danger. The politicians would not understand this.

Anyone conversant with security affairs else must be aware that the danger is still lurking. The situation is still chaotic. Terrorism is not a problem that one can be eliminated within two to three weeks. Nonchalant approach is one of the serious obstacles to resolving this crisis. The politicians capitalise on this crisis to sling mud at each other and score political points.

Continue reading ‘Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka Says He Opposed Sirisena Becoming Presidential Candidate as he Realised the Man’s Inability to Handle National Security and Blames Chandrika Kumaratunga For Bringing This “Kodivina” (Voodoo)’ »

By

Sarah Jameel

Dear Fellow Humans,

Some of you may know Sri Lanka from the recent news, some of you may have tried our exquisite cinnamon or world-famous Ceylon tea, some of you may have visited the island on holiday, some of you may have left during the civil war, some of you may have chosen to come reside on the island and make it your home, some of you may have been born there, and for some of you this maybe the first time you’re hearing of this island nation, lying off the Southern tip of India, and aptly named the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

I write to you all.

The little and well known facts and figures about my home, my people, my forever paradise.

I love that my island home has more cultural heritage than any other island of its size can ever boast, because that is Sri Lanka.

I love that we have national holidays that reflect the significance for every faith (i.e. with the most number of national holidays in the world), and that we get the best of festive food from our neighbours because, that is the diversity of Sri Lanka.

I love that people will stop and help you on the road if you’ve lost your way, even when they are busy themselves, because that is the simplicity of Sri Lanka.

I love that we don’t need a reason to celebrate and have a good time from coast to coast, to the blessed hill country, because that is the feeling of Sri Lanka.

I love that we understand when one of our friends is fasting during Ramadan, one of our friends is observing Lent, one of our friends is observing “sil” in temple, and one of our friends is doing a Pooja for Maha Shivarathri, because that level of understanding and friendship, is the glory of Sri Lanka.

I love that we all have the same local remedies for a cold or cough or headache or stomach ache, and that it has Panadol and Sidhalepa balm and kothamalli as its core, because that is what it feels like when you’re having the flu in Sri Lanka.

I love that we unite against anything for a game of cricket, because 1996 will always feel like yesterday, and where Susanthika’s Olympic silver medal in 200m women’s track will always be ingrained in our memories, that is unity in Sri Lanka.

I love that we have extended families that are probably more up to date with our social lives on their CNN (curry news network) than news channels are with breaking news, because that is the comedy of Sri Lanka.

I love that we are a nation, a people, a place, where food makes everything go around, and that you won’t go hungry — not even your enemy will, if they come home, because these are the values of Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Home Thoughts From Abroad: A True Sri Lankan Writes With Refreshing Positivity About The Island In the Sun at This Dark Hour’ »

By
Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake

Analysis of the Easter carnage in Sri Lanka has focused on the massacre of innocents that took place in three of the island nation’s coastal churches and congregations and largely overlooked the fact that the ocean-front, super-luxury, five star, Shangri la Hotel, was the only non-Sri Lankan “asset” (to use security jargon), that was targeted in the Easter Sunday carnage.

Moreover, it appears that to make no mistake, the masterminds of the crime ensued that they used 2 bombers at the Chinese owned Shangri la Hotel, whereas the other targeted churches and luxury hotels were hit by a single suicide bomber in this carefully coordinated and minutely planned logistics operation.
That two weeks after the carnage which killed over 250 people and wounded many more, there were no reprisals against the Muslim community of Sri Lanka is a tribute to the leadership of Cardinal Malcom Ranjith and the Church leadership.

It is also a tribute to the silent majority of peaceful and long suffering people of the island who perhaps through this disaster may re-discover the value and strength of the island’s diverse religious communities and traditions at this moment of danger.

Continue reading ‘Was China the Hidden Signifier? Easter Bombings and the Weaponization of Religion as a New Cold War Looms’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Communal violence has raised its ugly head again in the Western coastal city of Negombo 32 KM to the North of Colombo on Sunday May 5th.

pic via: @naajims

Although sections of the mainstream media have either blacked out or played down the events in Negombo as a clash between two groups of people due to a personal dispute, the ugly and inconvenient truth is that the Negombo violence was basically anti-Muslim in nature.

Although a curfew was imposed and security forces were deployed to keep the peace , there are disturbing reports that many incidents of anti-Muslim violence occurred during the night while security forces were on duty.

Continue reading ‘Anti – Muslim Violence Erupts in Negombo With Attacks Occurring on Sunday Night Despite Curfew Being in Force: Situation Reported Calm on Monday’ »

By

Radhika Coomaraswamy

(Text of Speech made by Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy at the Vigil for a United Lanka held at the Independence Square on May 4th 2019)

For people of my generation, as Sharika Thiranagama wrote in her recent article, news like the Easter Sunday blasts does not initiate a new fear, it ignites an old one. I do not feel scared or angry. There is just a complete paralysis of the self. A feeling of “We have been here before”. A trauma that has been lingering, hovering over these years of peace, has just been revived.

When I first heard the news, I was convinced that this was our violence, our people with grievances, our people who have become angry and frustrated because of our mistakes. I was sure that this was a product of the acrimony that coexists with our intimacy. Though there are external factors, this focus on the local is still a valid concern.

How did we create young men and women capable of such hate? What did we do or not do to make them receptive to hate mongering and delusion? They may have been radicalized outside our shores but why did we, as a society, not know about their terrible hate and anger?

Continue reading ‘How did we create young men and women capable of such hate? What did we do or not do to make them receptive to hate mongering and delusion?’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Western Province Governor Azath Salley yesterday alleged that Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hasthun, who blew up the Easter Sunday congregation at St. Sebastian Church, Katuwapitiya, had married an underage Tamil girl, Pulasthini Rajendran, alias Sarah from Batticaloa before the attack.

The blast caused by Hasthun claimed the lives of over 100 men, women and children. Altogether nearly 260, including about 40 foreigners perished in the blasts in Colombo, Batticaloa and Katuwapitiya.

Salley, who himself is under attack by former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse for promoting extremism, revealed that the girl had eloped with Hasthun some time back though they couldn’t get married as she was a minor.

Had she been a Muslim, they could have avoided legal issues, Salley said, adding that even the Maligawatte police were aware of this matter. Salley said that the girl was studying in the GCE Ordinary Level class at the time she eloped with Hasthun.

Continue reading ‘Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hasthun the Suicide Bomber who Targeted St. Sebastians Church in Negombo Had Married an Batticaloa Underage Tamil Girl Pulasthini Rajendran Alias Sarah Before the Attack Alleges Western Province Governor Azath Salley’ »

BY Norman Palihawadana

Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, yesterday, said a politically motivated group had been behind last Sunday’s clashes at Poruthota, Negombo.

The Cardinal said that a group of persons in a state of inebriation had come to Negombo from another area and tried to create tension between the Catholics and Muslims who lived in harmony there and gain political advantage.
Continue reading ‘Politically Motivated Group in an Inebriated State had Come To Negombo From Another Area and Created Tensions Between Catholics and Muslims in Poruthota States Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.’ »

by Amal Jayasinghe

The Roman Catholic Church appealed for calm and an alcohol ban on Monday after clashes between Christians and Muslims in a town scarred by the Easter suicide attacks.

pic via: https://twitter.com/kataclysmichaos/status/1125292155491241984?s=19

Hundreds of security forces entered Negombo to impose a curfew after dozens of Muslim-owned shops, homes and vehicles were attacked.

St. Sebastian’s church in the town 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of capital Colombo was one of three churches and three hotels hit by jihadist suicide bombers on April 21, killing 257 people.

“I appeal to all Catholic and Christian brothers and sisters not to hurt even a single Muslim person because they are our brothers, because they are part of our religious culture,” said Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Dozens of Muslim -owned Shops,Homes and Vehicles Attacked in Negombo After Clashes Between Christians and Muslims: Calm Restored After Curfew;Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Visits Negombo and Appeals for Safety of “Our Muslim Brothers”.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, MP, yesterday, said that law enforcement and intelligence services were free to inquire into the members of parliament in connection with the ongoing investigations into multiple suicide bombings on Easter Sunday.

Speaker Jayasuriya said so when The Island asked him what would be his response to a spate of allegations directed at some members of parliament, including UNP Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahaman by another UNPer Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, former Justice Minister.

Asked for further clarification of his position, Speaker Jayasuriya emphasized that it wouldn’t be his responsibility to direct law enforcement and intelligence services. The Island sought an

explanation as to why investigating authorities required his prior approval to investigate lawmakers, Speaker Jayasuriya said that though he was informed, in writing of such developments, authorities could go ahead with investigations without interference.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Says Law Enforcement Authorities Investigating the Multiple Suicide Bombings on Easter Sunday Can Inquire Into the Activities of MP’s Relating to the Probe.’ »

By

Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

The horror of the new reality that the Islamic State (IS) terror group has chosen Sri Lanka for its operations – for whatever purpose – is yet to fully register with many. While that is understandable against a backdrop of 10 years of peace, the government’s response to this new crisis, with its dire security dimension, shows a level of internal dysfunction that has left citizens aghast.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has sought to shift the blame to President Maithripala Sirisena while the President has pointed fingers at the former Defence Secretary and the IGP who refuses to step down (leading to speculation as to whether he has protection from some quarter). Now, both the prime minister and the president are with one voice saying that Sri Lanka ‘needs the help of foreign intelligence agencies.’ This odd concurrence of opinion needs to be examined more closely. Is there external pressure at work?

The prime minister had been reiterating the need for foreign intelligence support in his several statements from the time of the attacks. The president echoed that view on May Day, when he said he had just received the interim report of the commission he appointed to look into the causes of the tragedy. The call for assistance from foreign intel agencies needs to be seen in the light of the US and UK already having sent in teams to assist in the investigations, and Indian media reports mentioning Indian assistance in the probe. It comes at a time when Sri Lankan police and military are doing brilliant work in swiftly tracking down suspects, detecting weapons, explosives and information in almost every province. The US embassy statement said the US had sent in teams from both the FBI and the US Navy’s USINDOPACOM. One needs to ask, why is the US Indo-Pacific Command, which is part of the US military, included?

Continue reading ‘Is the Govt by Circulating Disinformation Suggesting the US had Offered Helpful Intelligence Preparing the Ground for Revelation of a Much Larger CIA Presence in the Country Than People are Aware of?’ »

By

Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe

Makandure Madhush, an organised criminal considered the god father of the Sri Lanka underworld detained by Dubai Police was brought down from Dubai to Sri Lanka by a special Police team yesterday.

Informed sources said the special Police team which left for Dubai last week arrested Makandure Madhush who was in Dubai Police custody and brought him down to Sri Lanka.

The Police team included two ASPs and an Inspector from the STF.

They had made preparations to bring down Madhush last Friday.

“It is true that our Police team was in Dubai. What we did was to have a surveillance on Madhush while in Dubai. It was the Dubai Police which brought Madhush to the Dubai airport to deport him. We too came to Sri Lanka in the same aircraft. We categorically state that we took charge of him only at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Thereafter we were responsible for him,” said a high ranking official of the CID on inquiry.

Continue reading ‘Notorious Drug Trade Kingpin Makandure Madhush in Sri Lankan Police Custody “Breaks Down ” After Intensive Grilling by CID ; Ready To Squeal All Details About His Associates, Links and “Businesses”’ »

(Text of a Statement Issued by Former President and Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa Under the Heading “A counter terrorism law to stifle democracy and to foster terrorism”)

One of the pledges given by the present government to their foreign masters through UN Human Rights Council Resolution No: 30/1 of October 2015 was to repeal and replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1979. The draft counter terrorism law that has been presented to Parliament for this purpose has encountered opposition from political and media activists on the grounds that the way it defines the term ‘terrorism’ leaves room for legitimate political and trade union action as well as the dissemination of information and protection of sources by the media to be labelled as terrorist activity.

In the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings, the government has been trying to sell their Counter Terrorism Bill to the public with the claim that it has provisions to prohibit Sri Lankan nationals from having links with foreign terrorist organisations.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Denounces Govt’s Proposed Counter Terrorism Law as a Comprehensive Relief Package for Terrorists and Demands the Retention of the Prevention of Terrorism Act(1979) and Public Security Ordinance(!947) Without Changes’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

As Sri Lankans are besieged by daily if not hourly reports regarding the rounding up of suspected islamist jihadists in the wake of last month’s Easter Sunday atrocities, it is crucial to recognise that the terrorism of a barbaric few cannot and should not be allowed to taint an entire Muslim community. Sadly but inevitably, Muslim Sri Lankans who were as appalled at the attacks as their Sinhalese and Tamil neighbours may face random and increased hostilities from the ignorant or the racially motivated. This is a trend that must be unequivocally and roundly rejected.

Misleading arguments on the ‘insufficiency’ of law

This time around and as differentiated from conflicts over land and power which had gripped Sri Lanka in its savage toils for decades, the fight concerns an ideology that is perverse and violative of the very fundamentals of Islamic teachings. In other words, the fight is over the territories of the Sri Lankan mind or to put it more correctly, what remains of that as twisted and beaten down by ceaseless political propaganda of the most sordid kind. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the counter-narrative to a jihadist doctrine of pure hate must not be trapped in a self-defeating ‘terror mentality.’ In that context, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s claim this week that the Easter Sunday barbarities may have been prevented if the Counter Terror Bill was passed in Parliament is as disengenous as it is dangerous.

There is a wholly misleading rationale to this reasoning. As appears to be this Government’s wont, the blame is passed from an unpardonable failure of political and bureaucratic leadership to a specious argument that existing ‘law is not enough’ to deal with jihadists having links to international terror groups. As Sri Lankans wriggled in acute embarassment, this was the same excuse trotted out to international news journalists who interviewed the Prime Minister in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. But the second part of that argument is where it gets interesting. As a result of this seeming lacunae, the Counter Terror Bill now before a parliamentary oversight commitee needs to be, (apparently in the Prime Minister’s mind), passed post haste as he urges parliamentarians in uncharacteristically pithy Sinhalese to stop ‘grating coconuts’ (pol ganne nethuwa) and pass the Bill.

Continue reading ‘The Counter-Terror Bill Proposed by the Prime Minister That Undermines Civil Liberties in its Present Formulation will Pave the way in Future for a ‘Security State’ run by Smiling Rajapaksa Strongmen’ »

By
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

Whilst the security operations continue, it is time for the committee set up by the president and indeed the rest of us, to consider the questions that refuse to go away and demand answers. The carnage of Easter Sunday throws up many questions, some of which have been answered albeit unconvincingly. Consequently a lot is riding on the committee appointed by the president to investigate as to how such a tragedy could have happened. Likewise, with the parliamentary committee that is proposed by MP Kiriella, for a similar purpose.

As to why in this election year and in this period of elections, Catholics should be targeted by Muslim extremists in a predominantly Buddhist country where there is no record of Muslim- Christian animosity and violence and where the most recent incidents of religious violence were perpetrated by Buddhists against Muslims, surely must raise more than a few eyebrows? The horror was meant to set minority against minority, draw the country into an international network of terror and tension and via the attacks on the tourist hotels, cripple the economy and show that the government cannot provide security for its citizens and guests. It most certainly has taken months in planning and has involved over a hundred locals in planning and execution. Whilst the Islamic State has belatedly taken responsibility for the attacks, it does beg the question as to why they did not do so earlier, given the scale of the attacks and the number of fatalities.

Continue reading ‘The president has Clearly Failed at the Cost of 250 or more Lives, as Minister of Defence, the Minister in Charge of the Police and the National Security Council.’ »

By

Don Manu

As the SUNDAY PUNCH stated last week, the Indian intelligence warned their counterparts in Colombo not once, not twice but thrice. The first warning, it is said, was given on April 4 the second the day before the attacks, the third hours before the attack. And it was thrice ignored. Indian intelligence was not a general warning. It was what is called ‘actionable intelligence. It did not merely state that there would be attacks but specifically stated that churches and the Indian High Commission would come under attack on Easter Sunday.

Is it unreasonable to assume that the top most concern and priority of the Indian intelligence service would have been the safety of its own High Commission in Colombo and its consulate in Kandy? They would, no doubt, have informed the Indian High Commission of the potential threat, they had extracted from an ISIS suspect in Indian custody.

Continue reading ‘Can President Sirisena or Premier Wickremesinghe Clarify Whether the Indian Envoy in Colombo Requested Protection From Govt To Ensure The Safety of the Indian High Commission and Consulates in Sri Lanka After Indian Intelligence Got Information of Impending Attacks?’ »

By Namini Wijedasa

Quran Madrasas and Arabic Colleges have mushroomed in their thousands around Sri Lanka during the past decade, promoting a “pure” form of Islam imported from West Asia that is at odds with South Asian traditions.

The trend mirrors developments in other parts of this region, including Bangladesh, where strong Gulf influence has seen a proliferation of largely Saudi-funded, Arab-style mosques and educational institutions.

In the Maldives, Saudi Arabia has just pledged US$ 95mn towards a six-storey building complete with mosque, teaching centre and conference hall.

Analysis of available statistics show exponential growth of Madrasas and Arabic Colleges, facilitated by the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs which also registers Ahadiya or daham schools. These have fostered greater religiosity.

Madrasas and Arabic Colleges impart teaching — often employing foreign clerics who are granted resident visas at the Department’s behest — without independent supervision or regulation.

Those that enrol older students churn out adults unsuited to the job market and whose preferred career path is also that of religious instruction. Alienation with other local populations has well taken root.

Continue reading ‘Official Statistics Reveal There Are 1669 Quran Madrasahs, 317 Arabic Colleges and 277 “Ahadiya” Muslim Education Schools Linked to Mosques in Sri Lanka.’ »

By

Wijayani Edirisinghe

Intelligence agencies are still doubtful of the death of the National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim, said to have died in the suicide bomb attack at the Shangri-La hotel on Easter Sunday.

Intelligence agencies suspect that one suicide bomber and Zahran had come to the attack, but Zahran had not committed suicide in a bomb blast.

Instead, he had fled after fixing a time bomb or detonating the bomb by remote control.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Intelligence Agencies Doubtful Whether National Thowheed Jamath Leader Zahran Hashim Really Died in the Explosion in Shangri-La Hotel as Generally Believed.’ »

By

Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe

The suicide bomber Zahran’s wife Abdul Cader Fathima and Katuwapitiya Church suicide bomber Mohomaddu Hasthun’s wife Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sara had bought nine sets of white clothing, nine blouses, skirts and undergarments from a shop in Giriulla on April 19.

This was disclosed by Zahran’s wife Fathima on being questioned by investigators at the Ampara Hospital, where she is being treated.

She had told that she bought nine sets of white clothing to be used by them as required.

“Sara told me that I would need them in the future, and will come to know why the clothes, garments and other accessories were purchased for,” Fathima had told police during interrogations.

Continue reading ‘Negombo St.Sebastians Church Suicide Bomber Mohommadhu Hasthun’s wife Pulasthini Rajendran Alias Sara was also Killed in the Sainthamarudhu House Explosion Says Mohammed Zahran’s Injured Wife Abdul Cader Fathima’ »

By Ameena Hussein

After the Easter bombings, I am struggling to understand how violent ideology has taken hold in my Muslim community.

Two days after the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, I met my greengrocer at the Colpetty market, a symbol of the cosmopolitan city that I call home. I have known Ashraff virtually all my life. He did not have his usual half-smile on his face, and when I went up to him to say goodbye, I could see he was troubled. Eventually, shaking his head in sorrow, with tears in his eyes, he told me that the day before, someone he had known for 35 years, a man from Sri Lanka’s Sinhala majority, had said he could no longer be his friend.

I understood his sorrow. The attacks on Easter Sunday have left everyone in Sri Lanka confused and bewildered. Those of us who are Muslim are also trying to understand how this violence could have come from our own community.

In the hours and days after the attacks, I sent text messages to my Christian friends, apologizing for what the attackers had done. Even though these terrorists were as far away from me in ideology as anyone could be, I felt shame. My friends responded, in true Christian spirit, that I had no need to apologize, and sent messages of concern for my safety.

Continue reading ‘Fighting for the Soul of Islam in Sri Lanka’ »

By Sharika Thiranagama

On the evening of April 20, I was making Easter bread with my children at our home in California when a friend texted me, saying there had been bombings in Sri Lanka. My chest hurt. I thought, I have been there before. I grew up partly in northern Jaffna, one of the major battlefields of the Sri Lankan civil war. Over the conflict’s three decades, most Sri Lankans lost someone to death or disappearance — in my case, my mother. News like this does not initiate a new fear: It ignites an old one, based on myriad experiences of explosions and of fearing the worst. The trauma has lingered, waiting to be revived, the emotions entangling themselves with new experiences.

Over the past week, people have repeatedly asked me what it means to be a Sri Lankan Christian, and how the Easter Sunday attacks relate to Christian communities — a line of inquiry that links us not to other Sri Lankans but to other Christians around the world. I answer slowly, carefully, attempting to be precise. In Sri Lanka, I say, people are making an effort to grieve across community and ethnicity. Churches and clergy have issued statements not only condemning the violence but also warning against any retaliation against minority Muslim communities that might follow. We have already seen isolated incidents of such violence. We fear more will follow.

My interlocutors rarely find this satisfying. Just this week, an undergraduate at the university where I teach sent me an email accusing me of dismissing the existence of a global war on Christianity. She found my insistence on Sri Lankan specificity frustrating; she wanted to grieve, too. Some outside observers, including Vice President Pence, were quick to frame the attacks in these terms. But Sri Lanka’s ethnic and religious life is often fraught, sometimes violent and always intimate, in ways that defy easy answers. The attacks themselves are evidence of this: Although the bombings in the two major Catholic churches occurred during the Tamil-speaking service, many of the dead are Sinhalese. The pastor at the Zion Evangelical Church in Batticaloa, who lost his son, recalled welcoming the bomber in when he saw him: Many Muslims came to the service for healing.

Continue reading ‘The Easter Sunday bombings are an attack on Sri Lankans as a whole — on our possibilities of plurality’ »

Sri Lanka’s Catholic cardinal has received “foreign information” that attempts would be made this week to attack a church.

According to a letter he sent to church officials that appeared on social media on Thursday, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith – archbishop of Colombo – said he was closing churches and Catholic schools throughout Sri Lanka and cancelling public congregations for mass “until further notice”.

“For your own good, we have decided to close down those institutions,” wrote Ranjith, who is also an outspoken critic of the Sri Lankan government’s apparent failure to act on Indian government intelligence in advance of the Easter attacks.

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Closes Catholic Schools and Churches and Cancels All Church Services Throughout Sri Lanka ” Until Further Notice” Due to Receiving “Foreign Information” About Possible Fresh Attacks This week.’ »

A top government minister revealed shocking details of alleged Sri Lanka military involvement with suspected pro ISIS militants who massacred hundreds in a series of deadly bombings.

Quoting from a confidential intelligence report, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that both Islamist and Buddhist extremist groups were initially bankrolled by the former government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa.

His brother, the top defence official at the time, Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed the operation.

“Thowheed Jamath Secretary Abdul Razik Rafiqudeen was an army intelligence member,” Minister Senaratne told journalists in Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Spokesman Dr.Rajitha Senaratne Alleges that Four Military Intelligence Officials Coordinated the Killing of Two Sinhala and Tamil Police Officers Through National Thowheed Jamath Members at Vavunatheevu Checkpoint in Batticaloa Last November.’ »

The younger sister of Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Zahran, the mastermind behind the Easter SUnday attacks was arrested by Batticaloa Police yesterday (May 01) in Kattankudy.

Continue reading ‘Easter Attack Ringleader Zahran’s Younger Sister Madaniya Arrested in Kattankudi With Two Million Rupees Cash Given to her by Elder Brother Zahran.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

There is a special kind of atavistic horror when terrorists attack places of worship. These strikes aim at decimating not only the life and limb of innocents but also destroying a community’s faith and spirituality, the very qualities that distinguish human beings from barbarians. As bombs ripped through churches and top end hotels on Easter Sunday and small children were killed while saying their prayers, Sri Lankans entered into their own interpretation of living hell. Christians could only echo the anguished words of Jesus Christ when he said, ‘forgive them for they know not what they do…’

A treacherous quicksand of political lies

But let us step back apace. Forgiveness aside, this nation is not comprised of idiots to accept this ‘I did not know’ explanations proffered unblushingly by the President, the Prime Minister and Ministers.

The great efficacy with which the police and intelligence services acted in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks suggests that there was no intelligence failure as touted. It was simply that political pressure coupled with stupidity held preventive concrete action criminally in abeyance.

Put bluntly, this atrocity happened because of Sri Lanka’s politicians, no more and no less. Clueless, bumbling and grossly ignorant, they stumbled their way into a treacherous quicksand of lies, prevarication and infamy. Each manifest absurdity suceeded another.

Continue reading ‘Easter Atrocity Happened Because of Sri Lanka’s Politicians. The President and the Prime Minister owe this Country an Explanation Beyond Their Asinine ‘I did not know’ Stories.’ »

Police yesterday released the identities of the nine suicide bombers involved in the Easter Sunday attacks, and said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was taking steps to freeze the assets of those identified as being involved.

According to the Police, the two Shangri-La Hotel suicide bombers were identified as Mohamad Cassim Mohammad Zaharan (Kudaikaran Lane, Muhideen Mosque Road, Kaththankudy 3) and his wife and child survived the clashes in Kalmunai last Friday, but his father and two brothers were killed. The other attacker was Mohammad Ibrahim Illham Ahmed (Mahawila Gardens Baseline Road, Dematagoda). The Cinnamon Grand Hotel bomber was his brother Mohammad Ibrahim Inshaf Ahmed (Mahawila Gardens, Baseline Road, Dematagoda).

Illham and Inshaf were brothers, and their father Mohamad Yusuf Mohamad Ibrahim and two brothers have been arrested. Inshaf’s wife has also been arrested.

Continue reading ‘CID Takes Steps Under Money Laundering and Terrorist Funding Preventive Laws to to Freeze Assets of Nine Easter Sunday Suicide Bombers Identified by Police.’ »

The Police has released the photographs and details of the suspects involved in the Easter Sunday attack to media.

Accordingly the Police has revealed information on the terrorists who died during the 9 explosions that occurred in 8 locations on 21 April.

However, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara stated that DNA tests are being conducted to confirm the identity of the suspects.Police has also arrested the brothers and wives of the suspects.

Continue reading ‘Police Release Details of Nine Terrorist Suspects Killed in Explosions at Eight Locations on April 21st 2019’ »

Intelligence agencies in the country have identified eight Government ministers who are under threat, issuing instructions to restrict movements and beef up security for the individuals as the authorities crack down on the Easter Sunday attackers.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne claimed that intelligence services have asked eight ministers in the Government to restrict their movements during the week due to possible suicide attacks.

“My MSD told me that I have been identified as one of them and I was told to stay at home especially yesterday,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Dr. Rajitha Senaratne Alleges That Several Groups Such as the National Thowheed Jamath and Bodu Bala Sena Were Initially Funded by a “Defence Ministry Secret Fund” When Gotabaya Rajapaksa Was Defence Secretary; “26 National Thowheed Jamath Members Were on Defence Ministry Payroll” Says the Cabinet Spokesman.’ »

The Islamic State group’s elusive chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in a propaganda video released Monday by the jihadist organisation.

It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but the man said to be Baghdadi referred to last week’s deadly attack in Sri Lanka and to the months-long fight for IS’s final bastion Baghouz, which ended in March.

“The battle for Baghouz is over,” he said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion and addressing three men whose faces have been blurred.

“God ordered us to wage ‘jihad.’ He did not order us to win,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Islamic State Chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Appears on Video for First Time in 5 Years Saying “Battle for Baghous is Over” and that the April Easter Attacks in Sri Lanka were “Vengeance for their Brothers (Killed) in Baghous”.’ »

by Norman Palihawadana and Rex Clementine

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith the Archbishop of Colombo flayed the government for its lackadaisical attitude and not doing enough to bring those responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings to justice.

Addressing the media, yesterday, in Colombo, the prelate said: “I am not happy with the security measures that have been taken since the attack. I see neither any direction nor any coordination in the efforts that have been taken. Security forces tend to go to places on tip-offs but much more needs to be done I feel.”

The Cardinal revealed that the original target of the Dehiwala suicide attack had been St. Mary’s Church in Dehiwala while the original target of the attack in Batticaloa had been St. Mary’s Cathedral, adjoining St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa.

“The entire Negombo area needs to be searched to prevent further disasters. When the authorities question some people and release them, they can flee the country. At least, their passports should be impounded,” the 71-year-old Cardinal said.

Continue reading ‘“If Parliamentarians and politicians were behind these attacks – directly or indirectly – people expect them to be arrested, questioned and punished if they have any connections” Says Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka has banned veils citing “security” reasons following Easter attacks, but the decision has sparked a host of concerns within the Muslim community.

President Maithripala Sirisena said that the ban, being brought under emergency law, was in the interest of national security and public safety, so that individuals were easily identifiable.

In this instance, “face veils”, Sri Lankan activists note, imply burqas that some Sri Lankan Muslim women wear, though the official announcement doesn’t name the attire specifically.

The announcement comes a week after serial explosions, attributed to radical Islamist groups and targeting churches and hotels, shook the country.

Continue reading ‘The Banning of “Face Veils” Under Emergency Laws by President Sirisena Gives Rise to Concerns Within Muslim Civil Society in Sri Lanka.’ »

(Text of Statement Released by the New York Based Human Rights Watch)

The Sri Lankan government should take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of South Asian refugees and asylum seekers from violence. Since the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday bombings by alleged Islamist militants on churches and hotels that killed more than 250 people, angry crowds have threatened and assaulted primarily Muslim South Asian migrants.

Sri Lankan authorities, as part of broader measures to protect Muslims and other minorities from local reprisals, should ensure the safety of at-risk refugees and asylum seekers, Human Rights Watch said. This includes providing adequate protection to mosques, police stations, and other locations where refugees are staying, transferring them to safer areas, and working closely with humanitarian agencies providing assistance.

Continue reading ‘Persecuted Ahamadia Muslims and Christians From Pakistan and Afghanistan Who Sought Refuge and Asylum in Sri Lanka Face Violence and Threats Due to Backlash After Easter Day Attacks.’ »

BY

Kelsey Ables

ON APRIL 21, Easter Sunday, a series of coordinated bombings killed hundreds in Sri Lanka. In the tense hours following the attacks, a social media blackout left much of the country barred from major communication channels—Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp—in the interest of “national security.” The ISIS-supported attack marks the most violence the country has faced since its brutal, 25-year civil war came to a close in 2009— during which suicide bombings at banks, bus stations, and other public spaces were common. The ban on major social networks—instituted by the Sri Lankan government to curb misinformation and hate speech—is is now on its eighth day and continues to interrupt communication, blocking access to family and friends. It’s also a burden to journalists trying to keep up with sources and follow what is an ongoing terrorist threat.

Hearing of the ban, I couldn’t help but think of how much I relied on these platforms when I was living in Sri Lanka during last year’s constitutional crisis. When a sudden shift in power in the highest branch of government was overlooked by international media and local coverage became politically motivated, I looked to reporter friends on Facebook who were posting regular updates, journalist messaging groups on WhatsApp, and Twitter lists curated by Groundviews, a local media organization. And when, ultimately, the political party leading the coup seized the Sri Lankan newspaper I had been working at and forced out one of my editors when she refused to cede editorial control, I found out through social media.

For Western journalists who are physically distant from Sri Lanka, it is easy to use this violence and the ban that followed as another data point in their ongoing battle against Facebook. Kara Swisher wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that her first reaction when she heard the site had been blocked was, “Good.” “When you traffic in outrage, you get death,” she wrote. “Stop the Facebook/YouTube/Twitter world—we want to get off.” Turning off Facebook and other social media, Swisher argues, is one of the only ways to protect against further violence. Sure, users do traffic in outrage on these platforms, but vital information also circulates—information that can only flow outside the political constraints of mainstream Sri Lankan media. And while there is a case to be made that Sri Lanka’s history of ethnic tension makes it particularly susceptible to flare-ups in violence, journalists and people seeking information will be hurt by the ban.

Continue reading ‘Blockade of Social Media in Sri Lanka: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.’ »

Questions are being raised about how much President Maithripala Sirisena knew about warnings provided by foreign intelligence agencies ahead of the Easter Sunday bombings that left at least 253 people dead and injured more than 450.

State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Nilantha Jayawardena provided detailed reports to the President on at least three occasions, authoritative and multiple sources with close knowledge of the inner workings of the Defence establishment confirmed to Daily FT.

One of those briefings took place ahead of the New Year holidays on 11 April, the sources confirmed.

A second briefing by the SIS head took place about five days later the sources added.

The Ministry of Defence was given an eleventh hour report that an attack was imminent on the evening of 20 April, Daily FT learns. The 20 April report was once again relayed by foreign intelligence agencies and specifically from India.

Continue reading ‘Senior Police DIG Nilantha Jayawardena the State Intelligence Chief Warned President Sirisena Thrice of Impending Terrorist Attacks on April 11th, 16th and 20th But No Action Was Taken by Sri Lanka’s Head of Government Holding Defence and Law and Order Portfolios.’ »

Responding to the Easter Sunday Attacks

We write today as a group of Sri Lankan Catholics and Christians, deeply saddened by the attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. We grieve with the families of all victims – whether they are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or non-religious. We cannot understand what could motivate such acts of violence against innocent men, women and children. We call on the authorities to ensure that all those who planned, resourced, enabled and executed these attacks are held responsible and that no further violence takes place.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks. We are deeply troubled that a small group of Muslims in our country became so radicalized that they were willing to carry out such violence against their fellow citizens. But we are also deeply dismayed by attempts to blame these attacks on the entire Muslim community – many of whom are horrified by what has happened. We cannot and must not blame an entire community for the acts of a few.

Continue reading ‘“We Must Never Allow Evil to Become an Excuse for Revenge and Hate” – A Response to the Easter Sunday Attacks by a Group of Christians Comprising Catholics,Protestants and Evangelicals.’ »

(Reuters): The wife and daughter of Mohamad Zahran Hashim, the suicide bomber cum mastermind of the serial bombings in Colombo and two other cities on April 21, were injured in the explosion in the Islamic State safe house at Sainthamarudu in Eastern Sri Lanka on Friday night.

The shootout at a safe house erupted as police hunted for people linked to Mohamed Zahran Hashim who has been named as the ringleader of the Easter Sunday bombings.

Continue reading ‘Easter Day Explosive Attack Ring Leader Mohomed Zahran Hashim’s Wife Hadiya and Child Hospitalised Due to Injuries Sustained At Rented House in Saainthamarudhu Where Gun Battle and Three Explosions Took Place.’ »

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for three men who blew themselves up in clashes with Sri Lankan police, the militant group said in a statement.

The men set off explosives after an hour-long gun battle with police Saturday, inside what was believed to be a jihadist hideout near the eastern town of Kalmunai, in the latest fallout from the Easter attacks.

Continue reading ‘Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency Claims IS Responsibility for Saainthamarudhu Gun Battle by Saying Three IS Fighters”clashed with them (Sri Lankan police) with automatic weapons, and after exhausting their ammunition, detonated on them their explosive belts.”’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

Muslim neighbours and the cleric in charge of the local mosque had tipped off the Security Forces about the existence of a safe house taken on rent by the followers of the Islamic State in the Muslim-majority town of Sainthamarudu in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, locals said.

In a gun battle between the Security Forces and terrorists holed up in a van and the safe house, and following three explosions triggered by the holed-up terrorists on Friday night, 15 people including six men, six women and three children, were killed, police said.

Two suspected terrorists, believed to be suicide bombers have decamped and a hunt is on for them, police said.

Islamic State Safe House

The safe house in question was taken on rent by the followers of a Tawheed Jamaat- led by Moulvi Mohamad Zahran Hashim, who was influenced by the Islamic State (IS), indoctrinated as he was by the Jamaat ul Mujahideen India (JMI), which is an affiliate of the IS.

Continue reading ‘Muslim Neighbors and Cleric in Charge of Local Mosque Tipped off Security Forces About Safe House Rented Out By Islamic State Followers in Saainthamarudhu Where Fifteen Bodies Were Found After Shoot out and Explosions.’ »

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is facing a civil lawsuit alleging extra-judicial murder and crimes against humanity in the United States for the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, has requested a 30-day extension to respond to the charges.

The filing by his lawyers in the US District Court of Central California, seen by Sunday Observer is also first official confirmation that the former Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and US citizen had been served notice on April 7, 2019, despite stoic denials by his loyalists that he received any such notice.

Continue reading ‘Ex-Def Secy Gotabaya Rajapaksa Seeks 30 Day Extension to Respond to Civil Lawsuit Filed by Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Daughter Ahimsa in the US: New Due Date Changed From April 29 to May 28 .’ »

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena had decided to ban two Muslim organizations linked to Easter Sunday bombings which killed more than 500 people, his office said.

National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) will be banned using newly invoked emergency laws.

Members of NTJ and JMI carried out Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo authorities said.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena to Ban Under Emergency Laws the National Thawheed Jamath and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim Radical Muslim Organizations Allegedly Involved in the Ester Day Suicide Bomb Attacks’ »

By

Hafeel Farisz

Three suspects allegedly radical Islamist extremists and two weapons of the two Policemen killed at a checkpoint in Vavunathiwu on November 29, 2018 were recovered by officers of the Criminal Investigations Department today.

Sources confirmed that the three suspects were arrested and the weapons were recovered.

” They were members of the radical Islamist Organisation” a high ranking source told the Daily Mirror.

Continue reading ‘Weapons of Two Policemen Killed at Checkpoint in Vavunatheevu in Batticaloa on Nov 29 Lat Year Recovered From Three Members of Radical Islamic Organization Arrested in the East.’ »

By

Paul Maley and Primrose Riordan

The Sri Lankan suicide bomber who studied at a Melbourne university was one of the subjects of a ­terrorism investigation by Australian security authorities after ­intelligence emerged linking him to ­Islamic State operative Neil Prakash.

The Australian can reveal that Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed, one of nine suicide bombers ­responsible for a string of attacks across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, was investigated by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team in 2014.

Continue reading ‘Suicide Bomber Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed Who Did Post-Graduate Studies in Technology at Swinbourne Univesity in Melbourne From 2009 to 2013 Had Been Investgated By Australian Authorities for Suspected Terrorism.’ »

A senior officer in the Defence Ministry says that a statement made by SLPP MP – Piyal Nishantha de Silva during a live TV programme yesterday (26) is false.

Appearing on the ‘Swarnawahini’ TV channel, the MP had claimed that 11 security force personnel had died during last night’s confrontation in Kalmunai-Saindamarudu area between the extremists and the security forces.

Continue reading ‘SLPP MP Piyal Nishantha de Silva Appearing on “Swarnavahini”TV Claims 11 Security Force Personnel Were Killed in Kalmunia Shoot -out but Senior Defence Ministry Official Refutes It’ »

Reuters: <em>Sri Lanka’s former wartime Defence Chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said on Friday he would run for president in elections this year and would stop the spread of Islamist extremism by rebuilding the intelligence service and surveilling citizens.

Gotabaya, as he is popularly known, is the younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the two led the country to a crushing defeat of separatist Tamil rebels a decade ago after a 26-year civil war.

More than 250 people were killed in bomb attacks on hotels and churches on Easter Sunday that the government has blamed on Islamist militants and that Islamic State has claimed responsibility for.

Gotabaya said the attacks could have been prevented if the island’s current Government had not dismantled the intelligence network and extensive surveillance capabilities that he built up during the war and later on.

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Says He Will Contest Presidential Elections and if he won his Immediate Focus Would be to Tackle the Threat from Radical Islam and to Rebuild the Security Set-up.’ »

The bodies of 15 people, including six children, were discovered from the site of a severe overnight gun battle on the east coast of Sri Lanka on Saturday, the military said, six days after suicide bombers killed 253 people and injured over 500.

The gun battle between troops and terrorists suspected to be affiliated to a Islamic terrorist organization broke out on Friday evening when troops attempted to raid a safe house, sheltering the terrorists in Sainthamaruthu in Amparai.

Continue reading ‘Fifteen Bodies Comprising Six Men, Three Women and Six Children Recovered From House in Saainthamarudhu After Prolonged Shoot -out Between Two Gunmen and Security Forces’ »

Combined Army, Special Task Force and Police teams are continuing search operations in the Kalmunai area where 15 people including 6 six children were killed in a confrontation between troops and suspected terrorists last night (26).

There are no dead or injured among the security forces.

One woman and a child were admitted to hospital by police.

The Sri Lanka Army said this morning that on information received from local residents a search operation was started in the general area of Kalmunai.

Continue reading ‘Bodies of Three Men, Six Women and Six Children Recovered From House Shattered by Explosion After Shoot -Out in Saainthamaruthu Between Armed Men and Security Forces Comprising Army Police and STF:One Woman and Child Hospitalised.’ »

The Army and the Police found a massive haul of explosives when they raided a safe house in Samanthurai in the Eastern province the Police Media Spokesman said.

Continue reading ‘Drones, Suicide Vests, Islamic State Flags and Clothing Along With Huge Quantity of Explosives Seized by Security Forces From “Safe House” At Sammanthurai in the Amparai District of Eastern Province.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake and Uditha Jayasinghe

The Government yesterday said a new splinter group of the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) had been identified as having links to the Easter Sunday attacks, as the number of arrested grew to 60 and the death toll rose to 359, with the country’s security remaining on high alert.

The number of arrested rose to 60 on Wednesday with 32 of them in Criminal Investigation Department (CID) custody. Investigations were mainly being conducted by the CID and it has confirmed that nine suicide cadres were involved in the bomb blasts. Out of the nine, the CID has identified eight of them, said Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera. Four suspects were also detained by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID).

Continue reading ‘Well-Known Businessman in Spice Trade Mohammed Ibrahim In Custody After Two of his Sons Were Identified As Suicide Bombers Who Attacked Two Hotels and Daughter in Law Set Off Explosion at Dematagoda Residence.’ »

By

Camelia Nathaniel, Amali Mallawarachchi and Lahiru Fernando

TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran yesterday demanded that Eastern Province Governor M. L.A. M. Hisbullah’s alleged connections to National Thowheed Jamaath must be investigated. Sumanthiran also said that all connections this terrorist group has had with various other politicians and previous defence officials must be investigated as well.

“There are many serious questions that are being asked about the Governor and his connections to National Thowheed Jamaath.This must be investigated,” Sumanthiran pointed out.

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran MP Wants Eastern Province Governor MLAM Hisbullah’s Alleged Connections to National Thowheed Jamath to Be Investigated Along With Terrorist Group’s Suspected Links to Other Politicians and Past Defence Officials.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Taking no prisoners, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday slammed top Government members for crippling national security in post-war Sri Lanka by failing to support intelligence agencies and take prompt action when warnings were received and for making political appointments to key positions.

Proposing that lawmakers from both sides should join hands if they have any honest intentions of saving the country from the new threat, UNP MP Fonseka listed the mistakes that led to the death of 359 people in the Easter Sunday attacks.

According to Fonseka, the country’s national security was neglected soon after the war ended allowing room for growth of different types of terrorism.

“Politicians may not like to hear this. I believe we took the wrong route after the war ended. The country became a carnival after 32 years at war. It is not wrong to have a carnival life, but the issue is the politicians joined the carnival mood and took time off from their paid roles of protecting the nation,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Sarath Fonseka Lashes Out at Sirisena for Not Returning From Singapore to Lanka Immediately After The Easter Blasts and Flays Ranil and Ruwan for Not Informing Parliament That They Were Denied Entry to National Security Council Meetings.’ »

By

Gehan Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka’s president issued a new set of Emergency Regulations on 22 April 2019. This note explains the contents of Emergency Regulation 15, which concerns the ‘control of publications’, and certain other regulations relevant to publication.

There are four features in Regulation 15 worth discussing. Before explaining these features, we should note that a ‘competent authority’ is defined in Emergency Regulation 2 as ‘any person appointed by name, or by office, by the President to be a competent authority’.

Regulation 15 does not provide any specific definition for a ‘competent authority’, so we can presume this general definition applies to Regulation 15.

Continue reading ‘Explaining Sri Lanka’s New Emergency Regulations on “Control of Publications” and ‘Publication’’ »

(Text of Speech Made in Parliament by Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran MP on April 24th 2019)

Hon Presiding Member,

I rise with a heavy heart to say a few words at this time. Firstly, I wish to convey our deepest condolences to all the relatives and friends of those who were killed on Easter Sunday and we also pray for speedy recovery of those who were injured.

I am a Christian and I share in the sorrow of the Christian church in Sri Lanka at this time. We believe in Jesus Christ, who came into this world, suffered as we do and took the worst of evil onto himself and was crucified unjustly. But he defeated all evil through self-sacrificial love, which is what we celebrate on Easter – Resurrection day. We are grieving – but yet we will not allow hate and revenge to overtake us. I can only quote Rev Fr Jude Fernando, who was celebrating the Easter Mass at Kochchikade St Anthony’s Church when the explosion took place. I quote:

“We love peace. We forgive. Our God is a God of peace, he is not a God of revenge. We love each other, we forgive.”

This does not mean that those who are responsible for this carnage can go scot free. It does however, mean that we do not respond to perpetrators, who acted out of hate, with hatred ourselves. The objective should not be revenge, but seeking truth, accountability and justice. It is the duty of the State to vigorously pursue them and bring them to justice in accordance with the law.

Very serious questions have arisen as to the why preventive action was not taken when information was available. Those responsible for this – from the very top – must at the very least resign.

Continue reading ‘By Unlawfully Holding on to the Law and Order Portfolio the President has now Become the First Person who Should take Responsibility for these Attacks that Could have been Prevented – MA Sumanthiran MP in Parliament’ »

Police say the death toll in the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 and more suspects have been arrested.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara also said on Wednesday morning that 18 suspects were arrested overnight, raising the total detained to 58. The Prime Minister warned on Tuesday that several suspects armed with explosives were still at large.

Continue reading ‘Death Toll in Easter Day Suicide Bomb Attacks in Sri Lanka Rises From 321 to 359: Number of Arrested Suspects Goes Up From 40 to 58.’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

On December 26 last year, scores of Buddhist statues in Mawanella were vandalized. A Criminal Investigation Department (CID)investigation led to the arrest of seven suspects, including one who was caught by the locals, allegedly while undertaking the act of vandalism. Suspects were accused of being members of a radical Islamic group. They were charged under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, produced before the Mawanella Magistrate and were remanded.

Interrogation of suspects led to an 80 acre-coconut cultivation in Wanathawillu in Puttalam, where CID sleuths uncovered a large cache of explosives buried in the plantation. The cache included 100kg of C4 explosives, 75 kg ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride and 6 cans of 20 litre nitrate acid, which investigators believed was meant to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Four individuals were arrested, however, the key suspects who were not in the plantation at the time, remained at large.

The arrests and seizure of explosives raised serious concerns within intelligence circles of an active network of Islamist cells. Concerns centred on a minority of Muslim fanatics who were indoctrinated by Salafi preachers and plotting attacks on followers of other faiths. At least two Muslim political bigwigs were blamed on maintaining contacts with these extremist groups, probably unaware of the evil they had been courting. One had offered to the Police to facilitate the surrender of an extremist preacher who was in hiding in return for an assurance.

In a shocking revelation, Minister Kabir Hashim has now told a media conference that one or two persons who were arrested at Wanathawillu were released due to political pressure. One of the released suspects was now being identified as Easter Sunday suicide bomber, he said.

Continue reading ‘Foreign Intelligence Service Informed Colombo that National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) Leader Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Zahran alias Zahran and his Followers Were Planning Suicide Attacks in Sri Lanka’ »

By

Nadira Gunatilleke

The death toll after the series of suicide bomb explosions that took place in eight places including three churches and three leading hotels on Easter Sunday, reached 321 by yesterday. Over 500 people were also injured. As of noon yesterday, 211 were receiving treatment at five state hospitals and 85 percent of the bodies had been handed over to the families.

According to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) sources, the total number of admissions to the NHSL from Sunday morning (21) to Monday (23) morning, was 267, of which 111 are still receiving treatment at the hospital. A total of 25 are still in Intensive Care Units (ICU) and the total number of deaths at the hospital was 53.

According to the Negombo Hospital sources, a total of 91 patients were admitted to the hospital and 20 are still receiving medical treatment. There were 104 deaths reported at the hospital.

Continue reading ‘Easter Explosions Death Toll Rises to 321: Of More Than 500 Injured 211 Are Yet Hospitalised With 37 Getting ICU Treatment; 22 Foreigners Injured and 45 Dead But only 31 Identified: Bodies of 35 Locals and 14 Foreigners Still Unidentified.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

The Islamic State and the Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania group have both claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks carried out in Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Reuters quoted the Islamic State’s AMAQ news agency to say that the organization has claimed responsibility for the multiple suicide bombings which took the lives of more than 300 people including 38 foreign nationals.

Earlier, Rita Katz, Director of the respected terror monitoring SITE Intelligence Group, said that Islamic State (IS) supporters have been applauding the attacks on social media, and “celebrating the casualties”.

Katz said that the IS media channels are ‘posting rampantly’ about the blasts and praying ‘may Allah accept’ the suicide bombers.

She claimed that the online praise indicated that the group may be preparing to take responsibility for the attacks.

The Russian news agency TASS quoted the Al-Arabiya TV channel to say that Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania, a little known group, has claimed responsibility. The channel had given no details about the organization.

Continue reading ‘Both Islamic State and Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania Claim Responsibility for Easter Attacks in Sri Lanka:Reuters Quotes Islamic State’s AMAQ News Agency About ISIS Claim While TASS quotes Al-Arabiya TV channel About Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania’s Claim’ »

TWO DECADES ago al-Qaeda made its name by mounting a succession of bombings against America across the world. These included the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998; an American destroyer moored in Yemen in 2000; and, most bloodily of all, the attacks of September 11th 2001 on American soil.

Though Osama bin Laden, the group’s founder, had long railed against “Jews and Crusaders”, so giving a religious sectarian dimension to his global jihad, his central target was clear: “kill the Americans and their allies”.

Twenty years on, jihadists have changed their focus, particularly under the new generation of extremists affiliated with Islamic State (IS). The Easter Sunday bombing of three churches as well as hotels in Sri Lanka—claimed by IS, albeit without clear proof—constituted the largest co-ordinated terrorist attacks in Asia in recent times, taking the lives of more than 300 people.

Continue reading ‘“Latest Bombings in Sri Lanka Suggest That Religious Sites in All Countries Have Become Fair Game for Jihadists” -The Economist’ »

Claiming responsibility for the Sri Lanka Easter Day bombings via its Amaq news portal, ISIS said the blasts were in retaliation to the recent firing at two mosques in New Zealand which led to the death of 50 Muslims. The gunman was a White Australian.

The message was aired on Amaq’s channel on Telegram app, reports News.com.

The video, which is suspected to be from Al Guraba Media, relayed the following message from ISIS: “This bloody day is our reward to you.”

The Sri Lankan government had first placed the blame on local religious group National Thowheed Jamaath. However, intelligence officials felt that the group, which could not completely deface a Buddhist statue, would not be able to carry out a mission on such a large scale. According to TOI, they felt that the NJT would have done this with external help.

Continue reading ‘“This Bloody day is our Reward to you”: ISIS Says Easter Day Attacks in Sri Lanka Were in Retaliation for Firing Spree by White Australian on Two Christchurch Mosques in New Zealand’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka)

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the devastating attacks on Easter Sunday targeting churches and leading hotels in Sri Lanka. According to media reports, the attacks have killed 321 and injured more than 500 people.

While standing in solidarity with the victims of these mindless acts, we call upon all community leaders including religious leaders to come together at various levels to defuse tensions and strengthen bonds between communities.

We also condemn vehemently all forms of violence and extremism and denounce any attempts to create further tensions through reprisal attacks on communities.

Continue reading ‘“Let us Unite and Rise up From the Ashes of Destruction” -Statement Issued by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka’ »

By

Prof A.N.I. Ekanayaka

The monstrous Easter Sunday massacre of Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka which killed nearly 300 needs to be seen in the broader context of the worldwide persecution of Christians in our day and age. It then becomes apparent that other incidents like the massacre inside two mosques in New Zealand last March bear no comparison in scale to the brutal persecution of Christians that is currently taking place and escalating across many countries throughout the world. Depending on the location such harassment is said to emanate from a wide variety of sources including extremist Hinduism, Buddhist nationalism, Communist authoritarianism, militant secularism, as well as non-state actors like paramilitaries and drug cartels in parts of Latin America.

However by far the most ruthless persecution is attributed to the pernicious influence of radical Islam, where Christians are being forced to flee Arab countries on a scale where according to the 3rd International Christian Forum which convened in Moscow in 2017, during the past 10 years the Middle East’s Christian population has shrunk by 80% prompting warnings that Christianity could entirely vanish from the Middle East the land of its birth by 2025.

It is fitting that the world should focus on this issue at this time when we remember that 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the gruesome murder of Graham Stains and his two little sons aged 6 and 10 who were burnt alive in their vehicle by marauding Hindu fanatics in 1999 in Orissa. Stains was a Christian Missionary who with his wife had been engaged in a labour of love working amongst lepers and other destitutes in India for 34 years. The anniversary of their martyrdom if nothing else should serve to concentrate the mind on the plain facts pertaining to the raging phenomenon now identified as “Christophobia”.

The facts speak for themselves although they hardly receive the media publicity they deserve in a secular atheistic anti Christian post modern world that is preoccupied with “Islamaphobia” ‘xenophobia’, ‘anti Semitism’ and “homophobia” but indifferent to the global epidemic of rampant “Christophobia”.

Continue reading ‘World Is Preoccupied with “Islamaphobia” ‘xenophobia’, “Homophobia” and ‘anti Semitism’ but Indifferent to the Global Epidemic of Rampant “CHRISTOPHOBIA”.’ »

(Text of English Translation of the statement made by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament on 23 April 2019 regarding the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks)

Hon Speaker,

We are gathered here today, to discuss the future of our country following the bomb attacks that took place on Easter Sunday. More than 300 people were killed and more than 500 people were injured in those attacks. I wish to take this opportunity to once again convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives and to wish those injured a speedy recovery.

After we ended the 30 year war on 19 May 2009, we all thought we had seen the last of such attacks. We were to mark the 10th anniversary of the ending of terrorism next month. Even during that 30 year war, no single attack carried out by the terrorists targeting civilians ever resulted in as much carnage as the Easter Sunday attacks. The LTTE also carried out co-ordinated simultaneous attacks on multiple targets but even they were not able to wreak the same amount of destruction. The Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka is said to be the biggest single terrorist attack targeting civilians ever to take place in South Asia. So many people did not lose their lives even in the Mumbai attacks of 2008.

This House has to look into the circumstances that enabled terrorism to once again raise its head in this country with such virulence. In November 2005, when I became President for the first time, there was a nominal ceasefire in operation. But the LTTE was carrying out attacks on a daily basis and killing two or three armed forces personnel in each attack. During that period a bomb attack on a bus resulted in a large number of civilian deaths. When I went to St Anthony’s Church last Sunday following the attacks, I was reminded of the Kebithogollewa incident. The people of that area expressed a great deal resentment at our government over the Kebithogollewa incident.

The people have no use for a government that cannot assure them of the safety of their lives. In July 2006, we recommenced the war because the LTTE closed the Mavilaru anicut and blocked the water supply to a large number of villages in that area. It is the duty of the government to at the very minimum, to uphold the right of the people to live and to create an environment where they will be able to go about their day to day lives. That is why we never looked back after recommencing the war following the Mavilaru incident.

In January 2015, I handed over a completely secure and peaceful country to the new President. We had strengthened the intelligence services so that there would be absolutely no threat to the national security of the country. Our intelligence services worked closely with other intelligence services of neighbouring countries and other international intelligence services to ensure the security of the country. Whenever we got wind of a threat to national security, we acted on it. The Easter Sunday attacks would never have taken place under our government.

Continue reading ‘“Having Received Information That an Attack Could Take Place, all that the Government did was to Ensure That They Themselves Were Safe” – Speech by Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe, Charumini de Silva and Nuwan Senaratne

The Government and the Opposition yesterday traded accusations over intelligence failures following Easter Sunday’s deadly attacks that left nearly 300 dead.

Government Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne acknowledged security lapses despite warnings from both international and local intelligence agencies. However, he insisted that the Government was doing all it could to enforce the law and increase security in the wake of eight bomb blasts that have left the nation in a state of shock and triggered outpourings of grief and solidarity worldwide.

He admitted a colossal lapse in defence intelligence units with multiple warnings issued by foreign intelligence agencies ignored or neglected leading to terror attacks that killed over 300 people and injured nearly 500 on Easter Sunday. “International intelligence agencies had alerted the Government about threats on possible suicide bombing by Islamic extremists on 4 April. We have found that there had been many lapses, weaknesses, negligence and lack of action in securing the targeted locations,” Spokesman for the Government and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told journalists at a special media briefing held at Temple Trees.

Continue reading ‘Govt Officially Names Organization Known as “National Thowheed Jamath” as Being Responsible for Easter Sunday Attacks by Suicide Bombers:Death Toll Rises to 290, Injuries 450, Arrests 26: Island Wide Emergency Declared’ »

Before the blasts in Colombo and other towns in Sri Lanka on Sunday, a memo warned of a potential attack and requested heightened security, a police source told CNN.

State Intelligence service had said in the memo that information had been received regarding an alleged plan of suicidal attack by the leader of ‘ Nations Thawahid Jaman” Mohomad Saharan.

The memo was dated April 11 and was signed by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Inspector General of police. Priyalal Dissanayake

Sri Lankan Minister of Telecommunication Harin Fernando tweeted a picture of the memo on Sunday.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service in Memo Dated April 11th Warned that Suicide Attacks Were Being Planned by Mohomad Saharan the Leader of “Nations Thawahid Jaman” Reveals Cabinet Minister Harin Fernando.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

The government ordered an immediate nationwide curfew “until further notice”, and a “temporary” social media ban.

Prior information on possible attacks was available with Sri Lankan authorities ahead of blasts, but “neither I nor the Ministers were kept informed,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday.

While it was important to probe why adequate precaution had not been taken, the urgent task ahead was to stabilise the situation in the country, he told media persons at a late evening press conference at Temple Trees, the PM’s official residence located a couple of blocks away from Cinnamon Grand, one of the Hotels targeted in Sunday’s coordinated blasts.

Continue reading ‘Prior Information on Possible Attacks Was Available With Authorities But “Neither I nor Ministers Were Kept Informed” Says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Statement Deflecting Blame Deftly on President Sirisena.’ »

The three hotels which were subject to the terror attack yesterday each had a guest with an identical name and National Identity Card number.

Daily FT learns this information had been revealed during a high level industry meeting with Tourism Minister John Amaratunga yesterday. The meeting also discussed other findings via CCTV in the respective hotels.

An AFP report quoted one of the hotels saying that a man by the name Mohamed Azzam Mohamed had registered.

Continue reading ‘Three “Guests” With Identical Name and Same National Identity Card Number Registered at Shangri-La, Grand Cinnamon and Kingsbury Hotels in Colombo Where Explosions Took Place on Easter.’ »

The Taprobane restaurant at the Cinnamon Grand hotel was having Sunday Breakfast Buffet at Hotel’sone of its busiest days of the year for the Easter holiday weekend.The suicide bomber waited patiently in a queue for the Easter Sunday breakfast buffet at Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Grand hotel before setting off explosives strapped to his back.

Carrying a plate, the man, who had registered at the hotel the night before as Mohamed Azzam Mohamed, was just about to be served when he set off his devastating strike in the packed restaurant, a manager at the Sri Lankan hotel said.

“There was utter chaos,” said the manager, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity as he is not allowed to speak for the company.

Continue reading ‘Bomber who Registered at Cinnamon Grand Hotel Under the Name of “Mohammed Azzam Mohammed” Queued up Patiently for Easter Sunday Breakfast Buffet at Hotel’s Taprobane Restaurant Before Triggering off Explosives Strapped to His Back.’ »

By

Hafeel Farisz

Two men checked into the Shangri-La which now takes pride of place in the heart of the city on April 20, 2019. They had provided an address in Dematagoda when checking in.

Close to 9 a.m. yesterday (April 21) the duo detonated two bombs. One at the packed restaurant cum cafeteria on the 3rd floor of the super luxurious hotel, at which many families had come to indulge in a scrumptious Easter Breakfast, and the next on the corridor of the same floor close to the elevators- not too far from each other.

The two explosions rocked the Hotel, with the death toll yet unconfirmed.

This was after the twin explosions at two revered Churches, in Kochchikade and Katana were reported.

The first explosion was at the revered church of St Anthony’s, just outside the city after which the second at the Katuwapitiya Church.

Continue reading ‘13 Persons Arrested with 10 Being Detained for Questioning: Police Say Suspects are ” All Local” and Part of a “Radical Islamist Group” With “One Single Ideology”.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Over 200 people were killed and nearly 500 injured in a series of blasts that shook Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Churches and luxury hotels were targeted in the deadliest incidents since the civil war ended a decade ago.

As many as eight blasts occurred in and around the capital Colombo and in the eastern city of Batticaloa on Sunday morning, as large groups gathered at churches for Easter services.

“Most of the blasts appear to have been suicide bombings,” State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene told a press conference.

Continue reading ‘26 Killed in Bomb Explosion at Batticaloa’s Protestant Christian Zion Church During Easter Service : 69 of Injuured Admitted to Hospital, 6 Serious in ICU.’ »

Reporting was contributed by Dharisha Bastians, Ellen Barry, Kai Schultz, Max Fisher, Elisabetta Povoledo, Mujib Mashal, Keith Bradsher, Gerry Mullany, Iliana Magra and Vindu Goel.

As Christians in Sri Lanka gathered on Sunday morning to celebrate Easter Mass, the culmination of Holy Week, powerful explosions ripped through three churches packed with worshipers, leaving hundreds of victims amid a havoc of splintered and blood-spattered pews.

In what the police said were coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by a single group, bombers also struck three hotels popular with tourists. At least 207 people were killed and 450 others injured, a police spokesman, Ruwan Gunasekera, said.

News of the bombings, the largest attack on South Asian Christians in recent memory, rippled out all Easter morning, interrupting celebrations across the world. Pope Francis, after celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square, said the attacks had “brought mourning and sorrow” on the most important of Christian holidays.

• The bombings began around 8:45 a.m., and targeted Roman Catholic houses of worship — St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, the capital; St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo; and Zion Church in Batticaloa — along with three luxury hotels: the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand, and the Kingsbury, all in Colombo.

• At least seven suspects were held in connection with the bombings, Sri Lanka’s defense minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, said. He said that suicide bombers had been behind the explosions.

Continue reading ‘A Single Group Believed To Be Responsible for Coordinated Easter Explosions Set Off by Suicide Bombers in Sri Lanka: State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene says “Seven Persons Arrested and Identified” But Requests Media Not To “Name The Attackers and Make Them Martyrs”’ »

By Dharisha Bastians, Jeffrey Gettleman and Kai Schultz

Coordinated bombings ripped across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, striking hotels and churches, killing more than 200 people, wounding hundreds and shattering the relative calm that the war-torn nation had enjoyed in recent years.

The targets were members of Sri Lanka’s small Roman Catholic minority attending Easter Mass and guests at high-end hotels popular with foreign tourists. By Sunday afternoon, soldiers had shut down roads across the country, and a jittery government had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

The government temporarily blocked major social media and messaging services, including Facebook and WhatsApp, to prevent the spread of misinformation online, according to the president’s secretary, Udaya Seneviratne.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in Colombo, the capital; Negombo, a city about 20 miles north of Colombo; and the eastern city of Batticaloa.

At least 207 people were killed and at least 450 wounded, said Ruwan Gunasekera, a police spokesman. Ravinatha Aryasinha, the secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said 27 foreigners were among the dead. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, denouncing “these vile attacks,” said “several U.S. citizens were among those killed.”

Officials and news media reports said that American, British, Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese nationals were among the victims.

Continue reading ‘Coordinated Bomb Explosions in Sri Lanka by Suspected Suicide Bombers on Easter Sunday at Two Catholic and One Protestant Churches and Four Tourist Hotels in Colombo, Dehiwela, Negombo and Batticaloa Kill at Least 207 and Injure More Than 450.’ »

By The “Sunday Times”Political Editor” :Excerpts

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary, handed in documents to the United States Embassy in Colombo on Wednesday (April 17) to relinquish his United States citizenship. That included the surrender of his US passport and signing an oath of renunciation.

Unlike other aspects of the relinquishment, it is accepted by the US government that the loss of citizenship occurs when the US citizen meets the Consular Officer at the Embassy by prior appointment. This is only for “immigration purposes” or is travel related. However, The Certificate of Loss of Nationality, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has sought will take time. Hereafter, he would have to utilise his Sri Lanka passport to travel overseas and will require a valid visa to enter the US.

He had his first interview at the US Embassy on March 6, just before flying to Los Angeles to attend the wedding of a friend. This interview was a requirement in terms of US laws for a Consular Officer to ensure that the renouncing of a citizenship is not being carried out by an applicant under duress. Upon his arrival in Colombo last Friday, he declared publicly that his visit was mainly to consult his lawyers. Pictures and videos of his taking part in musical events in Los Angeles with friends circulated widely in Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Surrenders his US Passport and Submits Necessary Documents For Relinquishing his US Citizenship to the US Embassy in Colombo on April 17: Will Cases Against him in California Courts Affect the Renunciation Process?’ »

By Ruki Fernando

From February 3 to April 14 this year, across Sri Lanka, there has been some sort of disruption against a Christian worship service every Sunday – on 11 successive Sundays to be specific.

Christians in Sri Lanka suffer violations of their right to religion and belief regularly, but most incidents do not make it to the news – or even to the Twittersphere. But the attack on the Methodist Church Centre in Anuradhapura, last Sunday, which was also Palm Sunday, a day of religious significance for Christians, was widely reported because of the forthright personal testimony and determined efforts of the President of the Methodist Conference, Bishop Asiri Perera, who had experienced the attack first hand.

In the past two months, this same church centre had obscenities shouted and stones pelted at it. A Municipal Councillor and villagers had forcibly broken in and threatened the priest and worshippers with assault. The Sunday before the Palm Sunday attack, they had cancelled the service due to intense pressure about the legality of their premises and services.

Continue reading ‘In the First 14 Weeks Of 2019 At Least 13 Christian Churches in 9 Sri Lankan Districts Have Been Affected by 35 Incidents Like Disruption of Worship, Assault, Death threats, Shouting of Obscenities and Property Damage’ »