The Sri Lankan Government on April 22 admitted that foreign intelligence authorities warned of imminent terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday (April 21), reports Daily Mirror. Heath Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that foreign intelligence authorities alerted the local defence agencies even ten minutes before attacks. “These intelligence authorities have informed, from time to time, starting from April 4, 48 hours before the attacks and finally ten minutes before tragedy struck. They gave warnings about a possible attack on April 4 for the first time. Thereafter, National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis, on behalf of the Defence Secretary, had informed the Inspector General Police (IGP) about the imminent attacks. He had actually informed that an organisation called ‘Thowheed Jamath’ planned suicide attacks and had even mentioned their names.
“He had informed that Thowheed Jamath leaders Zaran Hashmi, Jalhal Hital, Sajit Moulawi and Silhan had arrived in Sri Lanka to carry out the coordinated attacks. Then, DIG Priyalal Dassanayake had informed the ministerial security division (MSD), judicial security division, security divisions in charge of former presidents and the Diplomatic Security Unit. However, he had failed to warn the Prime Ministerial Security Division (PMSD) and the Presidential Security Division (PSD) on the attacks. Although the Security Council meetings had been convened after last December, council member and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was never invited,” The Minister said.
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India had specific intelligence on Easter Sunday serial blasts in Sri Lanka, reports The Hindu on April 22. While examining an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser in Tamil Nadu in India six months ago, investigators got to know of the terror plot and alerted the authorities concerned to pass on the information to Sri Lanka. A senior Police officer in India said there was clear information on the plan to trigger blasts which was communicated to Sri Lanka through diplomatic channels. The officer also said that the Intelligence Bureau had sounded an alert on the likelihood of the terror suspects escaping to India through the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.