By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

A fresh investigation on the Easter Sunday attacks with international assistance will begin soon, State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennekoon told Parliament yesterday. 

State Minister Tennekoon who was responding to an oral question raised by Chaminda Wijesiri said a fresh full investigation will be carried out with international assistance on Easter Sunday attacks soon as President Ranil Wickremesinghe is of the opinion that a fresh probe has to be made. “A fresh investigation will begin soon as per the opinion held by the President,” the State Minister said. 

“However we have sought the assistance of few international organisations such as Australian Federation of Police, Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) and Maldivian National Police. These organizations have carried out various investigations in their respective countries since the attacks and had arrested some suspects. They have deported some suspects to Sri Lanka,” he said. 

The State Minister said the Security Council had met 58 times during the entire tenure of the Yahapalana Government. 

“We contemplate that former President Maithripala Sirisena is responsible for the attack as he was the Minister in Charge of Defence, Police and the head of Armed Forces during the time of the attacks,” he said. 

Responding to a question raised by MP Kavinda Jayawardana, as to why the security provided to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has been reduced, he said he has no knowledge about it. “We are committed to safeguard the cardinal and maximum security will be provided to him,” he assured.