Ex-Ministry Secy. says last govt. lost sight of Muslim extremists in trying to please world

by Rathindra Kuruwita

The former government had been concerned that addressing rising Islamic extremism by arresting Muslims in the East would draw the ire of the international community, especially Middle Eastern leaders, former Secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order, Jagath P. Wijeweera, on Saturday, told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks

Wijeweera said that Islamic extremism had been discussed frequently at the National Security Council (NSC.). but former government had lacked the strength to take appropriate decisions to counter extremism. Wijeweera said he felt Muslim ministers were behind the government’s lackadaisical attitude.

Wijeweera said that former President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked members of the NSC to pay close attention to extremists.

However, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara had not attended that NSC meeting, Wijeweera said, adding that Jayasundara had not been invited to the NSC because he had fallen out with President Maithripala Sirisena.

Intelligence agencies, especially the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had uncovered a significant amount of information on NTJ and its leader Zahran Hashim by 2017, the witness said.

Wijeweera was the secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order from November 11, 2015 to December 12, 2017.