By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The statement made by the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera that Moulavi Naufer was the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks cannot be accepted, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday.

“Moulavi Naufer was never produced before the presidential commission which probed the attacks and therefore how could his name come up suddenly?,” he questioned.  
“Why has the report of the presidential commission failed to mention anything about the paying salaries to Zahran Hashim and why has the government failed to extradite Sarah who is said to have fled to India?” he also questioned.  

Also he said DIG Nalaka Silva’s attempt to apprehend Zahran was prevented by his arrest over an allegation that he was plotting to kill former President Maithripala Sirisena and incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  

MP Rauff Hakeem also said that claiming Moulavi Naufer was the mastermind was incorrect.
 “It is easy to find out the real mastermind behind Easter Sunday attacks, if one is aware of the country which was created by the West to destabilize Middle East,” he said.  

• Moulavi Naufer was never produced before PCoI