Pujith now says he should have done more

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former Commandant of the Police Special Task Force (STF), SDIG, M. R. Latheef was informed of the possibility of a terror attack, after he had received information from the SIS, both in writing and over the phone, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, on Monday, told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.

Jayasundera said so when a Commissioner pointed out that SDIG Latheef had told the Commission that he had not been informed of a possible terrorist attack by the IGP over the phone.

“This is his opinion, but I informed him of it over the phone,” the witness said. Jayasundara added that Latheef was among the first officers he had conveyed the information about a possible terrorist attack to. Latheef had been informed because he as the STF Commandant was a capable officer with a wealth of experience, the former IGP said.

“I received the information from then SIS Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena on 9 April, 2019 and I forwarded it to four senior police officers on the same day. I, as the IGP, believed that they would take appropriate action,” the witness said.

Commissioners asked the witness why he had not given specific instructions to the Police officers. Jayasundara said those SDIGs had a lot of experience and expertise. Moreover, given the political climate at that time, there was nothing more he could do, the former IGP said.

However, given the turn of events, he now felt that he should have given specific instructions.

Jayasundara added that he had realised the seriousness of the information on a possible terrorist attack and conveyed it to officers under him on the same day he received it.

Officers had taken steps to inform security officers of VIPs and the Indian High Commission. Additional security officers had been detailed to protect the Indian High Commission since it had been mentioned as one of the targets of the bombers.

The Commissioners then asked the witness on why he had not informed the Senior DIG in charge of the Eastern Province of that information since Zahran Hashim, Rilwan Hashim, Army Mohideen and Milhan, whose names were mentioned in the intelligence information, were from the Eastern Province. Jayasundera said he had not done so.

“At that time it did not occur to me to inform SDIG – East of it. But now I think it would have been much better if he had been informed.”