Hang those responsible for Easter carnage: Fonseka

SJB Gampaha District MP and former army chief Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told parliament on Friday that all those who are responsible for Easter Sunday carnage must be hanged.

Participating in three-day parliamentary debate on Easter Sunday terror attacks, the former Army Commander questioned the rationale behind letting those responsible for not preventing the heinous crime to go scot-free after paying fines.

“A few months ago, a driver who was responsible for a serious accident was given the death penalty. Why are people responsible for Easter Sunday attacks, by creating a conducive atmosphere and neglecting duties, only fined? They should be given death sentences,” Field Marshal Fonseka said.

Fonseka said that the person in charge of the security forces was inactive when the country headed for disaster. This allowed the re-emergence of terrorism in a country that had soundly defeated terrorism, he said.

“There were warnings of the attack. But still those in charge of national security remained inactive. This man didn’t convene the national security council for two months and when he recommenced the meetings, the prime minister, defence secretary and the IGP were not invited. The head of the SIS, who had received the information of imminent attacks, used to talk to the then president at least twice a day and I can’t believe that he didn’t tell the former president of the information he had received,” he said.

Fonseka said he would get to the bottom of this, if he was entrusted with the responsibility of uncovering the truth behind the Easter Sunday attacks.