day before Easter Sunday attacks Harin’s father was contacted by CID officer investigating Islamic extremism

MS tried to micro-manage everything without adequate knowledge: Harin 

• MP Harin Fernando’s father was in the ICU of Nawaloka Hospital when he received the call
• Around 8.12 pm on April 20, 2019, CID officer Sergeant Nandalal had taken a call to the MP’s father

By Yoshitha Perera  

A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer who was involved in several major investigations into Islamic extremism had taken a six minute phone call to MP Harin Fernando’s father Nihal Fernando on April 20, 2019 and had probably warned him about the following day’s coordinated terror attack, it was informed on Wednesday to PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks. 

MP Harin Fernando’s father was in the ICU of Nawaloka Hospital when he received the call and after the call he had informed his daughter not to attend Easter Sunday mass.   
It was informed at the Commission that around 8.12 pm on April 20, 2019, CID officer Sergeant Nandalal had taken a call to the MP’s father. 

 
Nandalal was involved in the investigations into vandalising Buddha statues in Mawanella, Wanathawilluwa explosives raid, the search conducted to locate the van that transported explosives to Wanathawilluwa and the questioning of National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) Physical trainer Army Mohideen.   

Representative from the Attorney General’s Department (AG) then questioned the witness, whether he knew anything about the particular CID officer Nandalal. MP Fernando said that he was not aware of an officer named Nandalal.  

“Was your father in contact with the CID?” The AG’s representative questioned the MP. In response, MP Fernando said that his father was a victim of a financial fraud case and due that he was in contact with the CID.    

• Officer Nandalal was involved in the investigations into vandalising Buddha statues in Mawanella

MS tried to micro-manage everything without adequate knowledge: Harin

By Yoshitha Perera   

Former President Maithripala Sirisena tried to micro-manage everything but there was a problem whether he had the adequate knowledge and capability to do so, former Minister Harin Fernando told the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.   

Testifying before the Commission on Wednesday, the former Minister said by informing what his father mentioned the day before the attack, at a media briefing, he wanted  to highlight the government’s responsibility.   

“The former government needs to take the responsibility regarding the coordinated terror attack which occurred on April 21, 2019. It is a well known fact that former President Sirisena excluded former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara with regard to matters of National Security, and had not invited them for National Security Council (NSC) meetings,” he said.   

Mr. Fernando added that he was shocked why the relevant officials did nothing to prevent it while prior information was available with law enforcement agencies.   

“The feeling I expressed at the media conference was just that. How was it that, as an ordinary citizen my father heard this rumour, but the President and responsible officers didn’t?” he asked.   

Mr. Fernando added after the 52 day government in December 2018 there were miscommunications between the former President and the former Prime Minister and as the then Cabinet Ministers they tried to bridge the gap between them.  

“All those who tried to unlawfully overthrow the former government in 2018 by assuming duties unconstitutionally and unethically in the 52 day government must share the responsibility for the tragic incident which led Maithripala Sirisena to allow this carnage,”he said.