Was not aware of any information on Easter attacks beforehand - PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says he was not aware of any information concerning the Easter Sunday terror attacks before the carnage took place.

He stated this testifying before the Special Parliamentary Select Committee probing the terror attacks on Easter Sunday yesterday (06).

Further testifying the Prime Minister said the Security Council, from time to time, had discussed about the Islamic extremism in the country and those who support the Islamic State, however, terrorist activities were not reported at the time.

Information was received that one of the Sri Lankans, who allegedly had links to the Islamic State, had died in Syria and the intelligence services were later instructed to look into this, he said.

PM Wickremesinghe stated he had attended the National Security Council meetings until October 2018 but he was not called to the meetings afterwards. The Inspector General of Police, who is currently on compulsory leave, had told the Premier that he was also not summoned to the security council meetings. According to the prime minister, when he later looked into this, he had got to know in February that the National Security Council had not convened thereafter.

He added that he had not received the letter containing intelligence information on possible attacks.

Responding to the committee members, the prime minister said he was not informed about the terrorist attacks beforehand and that he got to know the details only after the attacks took place.

PM Wickremesinghe emphasized it is a serious matter that he was not informed of such information.