Govt officials had inputs about Easter Sunday attacks

Sri Lanka’s head of State Intelligence Service (SIS) has said that government intelligence and defence officials were aware of intelligence inputs about Easter Sunday attacks but nothing was done to prepare for it. 

SIS head Sisira Mendis told a parliament select committee yesterday that his office received a letter on April 7 containing details of a possible bomb threat and he brought it to notice of defense secretary next day. 

He said that he went to both the head of defence and the nation’s police chief but no one followed up with his request to prioritize the threat. 

Mr. Mendis said it was never the main point for discussion among the officials with the



power to act on the threat. 

Sri Lankan government has accepted the failure to act on inputs from Indian intelligence about possible attacks. 

The country’s defence secretary was removed and police chief sent on compulsory leave following the attacks which killed 258 people including 45 foreigners. 

Police chief Pujith Jayasundara, who was sent on compulsory leave filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court against the decision. 

Mr. Jayasundera pointed out that the decision was totally unconstitutional and said that the President had no authority to send him on compulsory leave as per the police ordinance and the existing law.