SDIG admits no written reports submitted to Defence Secy on possible terrorist attacks

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former SIS Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena, on Wednesday, admitted before the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks that he hadn’t sent written reports on possible terrorist attacks, between April 01 and 20, to the former defence secretary, Hemasiri Fernando.

This was revealed when Counsel Dilshan Jayasuriya appearing for Fernando cross-examined SDIG Jayewardena.

Jayasuriya asked SDIG Jayewardena whom he reported to as the Former SIS Director, Jayewardena said that he had reported directly to the Defence Secretary. Fernando served as the Defence Secretary from 22 November 2018 till two days after the Easter Sunday attacks.

SDIG Jayewardena also said that he had been close to Fernando professionally and that there were times that they spoke on the phone two to three times a day. On average they would speak on the phone 80 times a month, the witness said.

Jayasuriya asked SDIG Jayewardena whether he had, in writing, conveyed to Fernando information he received from a foreign counterpart about a possible terrorist attack by Zahran Hashim and his associates between April 01 and 20. Jayewardena said that while he had not sent a report to Fernando, he called the former Defence Secretary to inform him of the intelligence information on April 07.

“I received the information on April 04, 2019 and during the next few days I did a record check and sent an SIS team to the East. On April 07, I called Fernando and conveyed the information and obtained permission to inform former CNI Sisira Mendis of it. CNI gets intelligence reports from many Sri Lankan agencies, so I thought he could make a better decision.”

Counsel Jayasuriya then alleged that SDIG Jayewardena had not informed Fernando of the attacks over the phone. Jayewardena said that he had evidence to prove his claim.

“There really is no need to provide intelligence or information in writing to people in the same field. Sometimes, a call or even a hand signal is enough. It is only after April 21 that everyone is obsessed over letters.”

Counsel Jayasuriya then asked the witness whether he agreed that the SIS had no clue about a possible terrorist attack until a foreign intelligence agency tipped them off. SDIG Jayewardena said that while they had not been aware of the planned terrorist attack, SIS had been informed of the danger posed by Zahran Hashim from 2017 and had urged relevant agencies to arrest him.