Pursuant to disclosures by former CID Director Shani Abeysekera

By Yohan Perera

United National Party (UNP) yesterday called for a fresh probe on the disclosures made by former CID Director  Shani Abeysekera on the Easter Sunday attack.

UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardene who made this request at a press conference said a fresh probe should be conducted by a committee to which all political parties could agree to.

“Mr. Abeysekera has disclosed that he had not obtained the assistance of state intelligence services while Former President Maithripala Sirisena turned down a request he made to attend the security council meeting to brief the said council prior to the attack,” UNP Chairman recalled. Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harin Fernando said he revealed what Mr. Abeysekera had come out with recently in Parliament one year ago.  “All that we said earlier is becoming true day by day. Our struggle to reveal the truth is becoming a success,” he told Daily Mirror. The retired SSP Abeysekera in his petition said, Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) CID Ravi Seneviratne met the then President Maithripala Sirisena and explained that the attacks on Buddhist statues in Mawanella and the illegal storing of over 100 kg of explosives in Lactowatta, Vanathavilluva are suspected to be done by the same group, and therefore this matter should be given serious consideration. He also stated that since the CID was not a member of the Security Council, SDIG CID Ravi Seneviratne, had requested the then President Sirisena, to bring this matter to the attention of the Security Council with a view of getting assistance from the intelligence services and the military to support the CID to prevent any terrorist bombings or extremist activities.