Daily Mirrorreports that a team of US counter-terrorism experts led by US Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz called on the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on July 9 and briefed him about counter-terrorism measures to be taken. They emphasised the need for stricter border control and coast guard to ward off terrorism. The Prime Minister reportedly informed them that the government was planning to establish a counter-terrorism centre to coordinate intelligence operations and take action. Moreover, the US team had found out that National Thowheed Jma’ath (NTJ) leader Mohamed Zahran Hashim had requested the Islamic State to recognize him as its agent for Sri Lanka. The source said the dismantling of the entire terror network maintained by Zahran was seen as an achievement by the US experts.