Opposition Lawmaker Harin Fernando and his party colleagues created a stir in Parliament on Tuesday (20) when they revealed that “Sonic-Sonic” was a code name used in communications between the Easter Sunday bombers on the messaging app Threema.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) managed to intercept communications between the attackers on the obscure messaging app when they assisted with the initial probe into the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, opposition lawmakers said.
For months, opposition MPs have been hinting about the involvement of Sri Lankan high level intelligence operatives in the April 2019 bombings that killed 269 people.
More recently, opposition MPs including Manusha Nanayakkara and Anura Kumara Dissanayake have referenced a connection between the Easter Sunday conspirators and Lankan intelligence personnel in Malaysia. During his speech several weeks ago, Dissanayake also referred to the same second Zahran from Matale, in the context of his links to the security apparatus of Sri Lanka.
But Tuesday’s explosive statement marks the very first time the Opposition has directly alluded to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s State Intelligence Services Chief, Major General Suresh Sallay.
Fernando talked about the arrest of “Matale Zahran”, the second Zahran who has been the subject of discussion in recent weeks, as suspicions have grown about links between the security establishment and the bombers.
“He was referred to as “Little Zahran”, Fernando explained about Zahran II. It was in Little Zahran’s intercepted communications that the Code Name “Sonic-Sonic” had repeatedly appeared. Yet Matale Zahran had never been summoned to testify before the Easter Sunday Commission, the Opposition Lawmaker noted.
Fernando alleged that one individual who represents President Gotabaya Rajapaksa controls the country’s entire intelligence apparatus. This individual, Harin Fernando said, had recently taken over the job of the CID, briefing the Attorney General on the Easter Sunday attackers.
Maj. Gen. Sallay recently met with AG Dappula De Livera, to convince him that the persons arrested in connection with the bombings that the government had “decided” were masterminds and the real perpetrators. It is unprecedented for an SIS Chief to directly involve himself in a criminal investigation. But President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa already broke with precedent when he appointed a major general from the army to head the SIS which is an arm of the Police Department.
“If you want to find out who the mastermind of the Easter bombings is, remember that it is this person,” Fernando said, careful not to mention the SIS Chief by name.
From 2017-2019, Sallay functioned as Defence Attache at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. During the same period, former Colombo Mayor turned die-hard Gotabaya loyalist A.J.M Muzammil was appointed as High Commissioner to Malaysia by President Maithripala Sirisena.
During the debate on the Easter Sunday Attacks in Parliament in March 2021, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake repeatedly alluded to a Malaysian dimension to the bombing conspiracy, including calls to a certain mobile telephone from one of the overseas terror suspects who reportedly managed to get ISIS to take responsibility for the attacks. “Who did that mobile telephone number in Malaysia belong to,” Dissanayake said, dangling a tantalizing question he obviously knew the answer to but was not at liberty to say. [See video here]
MI intervention to remove intelligence officer from CID custody
Harin Fernando also revealed based on testimony provided to the Presidential Commission on the Easter attacks that an intelligence officer arrested in connection with the bombings had been whisked away into the custody of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) before a statement could be recorded by police. When they took the arrested officer from CID custody, military intelligence officials had said the suspect was “one of their projects,” said the SJB MP in his explosive speech.
Investigations by former CID Director Shani Abeysekara had revealed that the suspect had had discussions with at least one suspect involved in the attack, according to Fernando. He said the connection between the bombers and the intelligence officer had been traced through an IP address.
Fernando insisted he was basing his revelations on the testimony of Chief Inspector Sampath Kumara Senaratne, formerly Officer In Charge of the CID’s Digital Forensic Laboratory which revealed details about the arrest of the intelligence officer and his removal from CID custody by the DMI, had not been included in the Commission Report. CI Senaratne’s testimony had been heard and recorded by lawyers and observers present at the Commission sittings, he explained. “I challenge the Government to make public all of the testimony provided to the Commission, if they accuse me of lying about this,” an insistent Fernando said.
Omissions by the Janak Silva Commission on Easter bombings
The omission of CI Senaratne’s testimony and its failure to pursue the line of inquiry and summon so-called masterminds of the attacks to testify, raises deep questions about the conduct of the Commission itself.
The Presidential Commission led by now Supreme Court Justice Janak De Silva was appointed by former President Maithripala Sirisena. The Presidential Commission was meant to be a 9/11 style broad inquisition, that would uncover the motive and modus operandi of the terror attacks and precisely identify the security failures that led to their success.
Similarly, there is no indication so far that evidence provided in camera by the wife of Zahran had been included in the report. Opposition MPs charged that her testimony was considered so sensitive that her evidence had been recorded in-camera. Colombo Telegraph previously reported that her evidence had indicated her husband’s funds and handlers were part of a state security network.
Thirdly, the statement made by former IGP Pujith Jayasundara before the Presidential Commission on the Easter attacks, that the sole surviving member of the suicide bomber squad had made a phone call to a military intelligence officer 20 minutes before detonating himself was never investigated further by the Commission.
Justice Janak Silva’s commission failed to call for the phone data records of the failed Taj Samudra bomber from law enforcement following IGP Jayasundera’s statement and did not appear to take any further action to determine the identity of the intelligence officer the bomber had spoken with on April 19 2019 shortly before he blew himself up at an inn in Dehiwala. It is unclear whether the Commission ever questioned high ranking Military Intelligence Officers about the alleged phone call. Certainly, no further evidence or investigation of Jayasundera’s claim was recorded in the Commission report.
Fernando’s speech, during which he wore a signature black shawl to express solidarity with the victims of the Easter bombings, was repeatedly interrupted by ruling party back-benchers who appeared desperate to prevent the revelations being entered into the Hansard of Parliament.
See full video:
A vicious back and forth ensued, with Fernando referring to the SLPP back-benchers as donkeys, and the ruling party members retorting with allegations about Fernando’s personal life.
SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara followed up with further revelations in Parliament on Tuesday. He said the FBI intercepts had also revealed that the bombers had referred to a particular individual as “the Boss” and claimed that the delays in carrying out the attack plans were upsetting “the Boss”.
Nanayakkara charged that as a Government that had gained power on a wave of shock and sorrow over the Easter Sunday bombings, the SLPP administration was duty-bound to reveal the truth to the people of Sri Lanka about who was behind these attacks.
See full video of Manusha Nanayakkara’s speech here.
HARIN TRANSCRIPT:
A few weeks ago, the Government said that they had “decided” on the mastermind of the Easter Sunday bombings. They declared Naufer Moulawi as the mastermind. Naufer Moulawi was never even brought before the Presidential Commission to testify. There is no way to even explain how exactly he masterminded the attacks.
I must make some revelations today. If you oppose the things I am exposing, then I say to you that you are against the truth coming out.
It was Shani Abeysekera who first discovered a person involved in the Easter Sunday attacks by tracing him using an IP address. It was found that this person was in discussions with the intelligence services. My statement is based on testimony provided before the Presidential Commission on the Easter Sunday attacks. This testimony was heard and recorded by all the lawyers present at the hearings, but the evidence was never recorded as part of the Commission report.
When the intelligence officer involved in the discussions was identified and arrested by the CID, the Military Intelligence division said he was “one of their projects” and removed him from CID custody. All of this is testimony recorded before the Easter Sunday Commission.
Honourable Speaker, I am urging that all of the evidence recorded before the Commission on the Easter Sunday attacks is made public.
What has happened to the CID today? In the CID alone, four directors have been transferred. Scores of CID officers have also been transferred. I can list them out for you. They are:
SP Jayasinghe, Tissera, Kalanasiri, Lokuhetty, Ranjith Wedasinghe;
ASPs Nuwan Asanka and W B Darshika Kumari;
WCI Hella Udage, WCI Niroshini Hewapathirana, WCI Deepani Menike;
Chief Inspectors Keerthisinhe, Allepola, Wijesinghe.
Where are these officers? All of them have been transferred. These are the CID officers who investigated the Easter Sunday attacks – and all of them have been transferred. Four days after the presidential elections Shani Abeysekera who led the investigations was transferred and made into a peon. Then the Government put him in jail. When the lead investigator in the Easter bombings is in jail, when all the CID officers who investigated the attacks have been transferred – the question must be asked – what the hell is the Government trying to hide?
Hon Speaker. There was a Matale Zaharan. He was referred to as “little Zahran”. There was a code he used in communications called “Sonic-Sonic”
This testimony was provided to the Commission by CI Senaratne, Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Digital Forensics Division of the CID. CI Keerthisinghe also provided evidence about Matale Zahran who he arrested. Matale Zaharan is still in custody. Naufer Moulawi who the Government claims is the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attack is also in custody. So why on earth were their statements not recorded before the Easter Commission? But he is apparently the master-mind. Who is the Government trying to fool?
Let’s talk about Sonic-Sonic. In ISIS Ali Bagdadi accepts responsibility for the attacks. Why was all this testimony concealed?
(POINT OF ORDER)
This Government has a vested interest in concealing the truth. What I am revealing is based on testimony before the Easter Sunday Commission.
The Government naturally does not like us talking about this because we are exposing what they are doing to the Sri Lankan police force and the intelligence services.
WATCH : Tense situation in Parliament over Harin’s Easter Sunday attacks revelations
Manusha Nanayakkara:
When Zahran’s wife gave evidence before the Presidential Commission on the Easter Attacks, the whole press corps was removed from the hearings. Her testimony was provided in-camera. What was in this evidence? There are huge questions about her testimony and what it contained.
Based on FBI intercepts on the bombers communications in the Threema App, we learned that the bombers split into two groups before attacks and operated out of two safe houses in Panadura and Ja-ela. In their communications, they discuss delays in carrying out the attacks. The messages claim someone referred to as “The Boss” is unhappy about the delay.” Now what the Government has to tell the people is who is this person the bombers are referring to as the Boss?
A Government that came to power on the tears of the Easter attack has a duty to reveal this. (By Janakie Mediwake)
GATAM / April 21, 2021
Those who survived these bomb attacks recounted that bombers shouted Allahu Akbar just before blasting. This is a vital piece of evidence many have missed.
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Ajith / April 21, 2021
Plotters are not fools to shout “Saranam Puthham Kachaami” or “Jeyaweva”!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / April 21, 2021
Sonic-Sonic (or S-S) is the code name for Suresh Salleh who was the mediator between Rajapakse gang and the bombers. Boss is Gota who is the mastermind.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / April 21, 2021
From beginning, I have been saying that this is the work of Rajapakse gang with support from China and Pakistan in order to topple the government. Rajapakse gang did not want to come to power over dead bodies of Budhdhists and chose to sacrifice Catholics. China drafted in Sirisena with promise of second term, and he facilitated by blocking arrest of bombers. Mahinda regime funded and supported bombers to create trouble to Tamils, which was continued by Yahapalana regime. Muslim intelligence officers and Pakistani agents were used to brainwash them to kill Catholics. Muslim politicians, businessmen and professionals who have given financial and logistical support to the bombers, have been let off due to political and financial deals. Ranil W and Ruwan W are complicit in it and wanted it to happen to take pressure off UNHCR.
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leelagemalli / April 22, 2021
But corrupted conditioned mind set is made to believe Rajapakshe s are the saviour of this nation. He et al grabbed the power by promising about the improvement of sluggish economy but today bugger mahinda is speechless and make every effort to put on COVID 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
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Samitha / April 23, 2021
The conspiracy is far more scarier than I imagined. Our land is cursed by the devil himself.
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Dinuk / April 21, 2021
Harin and Manushya are jokers and political pawns in the same US game and cover up of the Truth about the Easter attacks. With clowns like this the SJB is a lost cause!
This is total bunk to distract from the fact that the CIA and Saudi were behind the Easter Sunday attacks and there is massive evidence to prove this. Easter carnage was staged to provide an excuse for SOFA to be signed and to set up a US military base in Lanka to supposedly protect Christians from ISIS.
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Dinuk / April 21, 2021
Harin and Manushaya should take there idiotic play and protest outside the US embassy and Saudi consulates.
The Fake Covid 19 pandemic is being talked up in Sri Lanka at this time to prevent protests at the US embassy and to stop May day protests as well.
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Rajash / April 21, 2021
There is a debate over this some say they heard the bomber shouting Gotahu Akbar
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leelagemalli / April 21, 2021
Harin Fernando & Dr Harsha Silva are real good young politicians. There are no such men in POHOTTUWA crime network. 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
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leelagemalli / April 21, 2021
Animal Lanza should long be arrested and put in jail if srilanken auditor general had balls to reveal how the kind of drug kin pins became untouchably wealthy by ruining the youth with drugs😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌
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leelagemalli / April 22, 2021
This is unfortunately, a grave issue, but not many seem to worry about.
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Why cant AUDITOR generals do the job well ? He is controlled by Rajapakshe goons for such a long time. If the bugger et al would do their jobs properly, and as expected, Rajapakshes should long have been put in jails. They loot, loot. loot, but nothing works…. though the poor is falling from frying pan to fire…
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Why cant all other men in high offices do the job well knowing that all is rotten so far due to their inablities for having not taken timely actions in order systems could work properly?
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Like moving on a curve, we some honest portions of the society, just stay criticising, nothing seems tobe working in terms of an inch move foward.
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This is CALLED wonder land SRILANKA. People dreamt of a better place once CIVIL war is no longer there. The saddest reality as of today is, it has become a silicon vally to criminals and Rajapakshe style mlechcha politicians.
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This nation could become one of the powerful states in the region, but just because people are misled by LOCAL selfish media mafia men, almost everything is twisted so that they could reap the harvest as much as they can. Tattamamala, stay as if their little heads are fully being controlled by MEDAMULANA rascals.
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Ari / April 22, 2021
Are you really off your rocker?
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leelagemalli / April 22, 2021
Opposition appeared to be powerful also with few guys and their presences in the current parliament with many in ruling coalition, stay away.
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No responsible ministers there to answer the questions raised by fellow MPs. That bitch s son, who makes every effort to be in good books, none other than AJITH CABRAL is fully lost by having made public statements based on untruths about the levels of RUPEE to have improved. In contrary to his public statements, it has been depreciated as no times in the past, making records like 208 to a US dollar. At the time, its value went down upto 180 or so, they so called self-proclaimed EXPERTs like Bandula-bed pan style mouth holder rabbleroused the very same nation. Remember ? with that all time criminal Mahinda Rajapakshe asking ” are u happy now “. … all these men, that overestimated their ablities, are fully lost today, stay like DEFEATED dogs that make every effort hiding their tails behind the rear legs.
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leelagemalli / April 22, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyah5Y_qP5Q
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Nathan / April 21, 2021
The Plot thickens!
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Nathan / April 21, 2021
I avoided mentioning that the the phrase appears in a play called The Rehearsal, (1671), by George Villiers. A part from it reads: “Ay, now the Plot thickens very much upon us.”
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Thanks CT, for taking the readers to who the ‘us’ are.
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Ari / April 22, 2021
Plot might thicken, but the voters are even ‘thicker’!
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chiv / April 21, 2021
Slowly but surely the facts keep coming. Since Easter I maintained without politicians role this plan could NOT have been executed and it is Rajapaksas who desperately needed such devious plan for political gains. I also said , this may not be that easy as in past to bury without evidence due to the facts foreign experts were allowed soon after the incident who cannot be fooled and due to many foreigners death, respective countries will be hell bend in finding the real culprits. Lankans can fool Lankans all the time but not the world. On this day in U.S.A, the cop who murdered has been found guilty of murder and man slaughter which again is a turning point in history of racial injustice. People say Trump may return in 2024, 2028 – – – -and so on, but there is currently a mad rush among activist to unearth information using RTI which will soon reveal all the unethical, illegal activities conducted during those four years time. Until now people who were appointed by him were blocking such inquiries and now that most have either left or fired there is plenty light at end of tunnel. But in Lanka, the tunnel never ends. I am sure Geneva was aware of these facts prior to passing the resolution.
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Thiha / April 21, 2021
Three harty cheers to Harin and Manusha for daring to expose the truth and three loud farts in the face of that scoundrel who calls himself a Cardinal.
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Thiru / April 21, 2021
Sri Lanka is a failed state sans rule of law. Seventy two years have passed since self rule started to reach this state of affairs.
From D S Senanayake onward there was/is no sincere dedicated leader with the vision and mission to build prosperous, free nation uniting all the communities.
Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism and undermining the Tamils is the goal of all the Sinhalese leaders and Sinhalese opposition parties.
Whenever Tamils MPs raise matters in parliament there is disturbance to drown their voices both by the ruling side and the opposition Sinhalese side.
There is no planned development of the economy – it muddles through.
In a land full of coconuts they have to import coconut oil.
Maids are “exported” to perform menial jobs to elk out a living for the kith and kin back home.
Talented professional an entrepreneurial Tamils are exported so that Sinhalese can take the jobs.
Tamil lands in the North East is settled with Sinhalese from the South to create more turmoil in the future.
With several pogroms against Tamils during the 72 years valuable talents are lost to the West.
Security forces including the police are and some are credibly accused of crimes against humanity.
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Eagle Eye / April 21, 2021
Thiru,
“From D S Senanayake onward there was/is no sincere dedicated leader with the vision and mission to build prosperous, free nation uniting all the communities.”
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How can Sinhala leaders unite all the communities when Tamil leaders did not want to unite and co-exist with Native Sinhalayo?
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Sinhale/Ceylon/Sri Lanka which is the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo was ruined by racist separatist Malabar Vellala Tamil politicians by not allowing Tamil people brought to Sinhale by colonial rulers as coolies to co-exist with Sinhalayo who accommodated them when they were abandoned in their country by colonial rulers who brought them.
GG Ponnambalam who emerged as a leader of Tamils in 1930’s was an anti-Sinhala ultra-racist who ignited the first Tamil-Sinhala riots in 1939 by giving a racially charged speech at Nawalapitiya denigrating the Sinhala-Buddhist culture, its history and the people. His aim was to depict Sinhalayo as evil people who deny the rights of Tamils and oppress them. He also wanted equal status to Tamils who were only 12% with majority Native Sinhalayo and asked for 50:50. British refused to give 50:50 but Sinhalayo agreed to give 43%.
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Eagle Eye / April 21, 2021
Thiru,
“Tamil lands in the North East is settled with Sinhalese from the South to create more turmoil in the future.”
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Sinhale>Ceylon>Sri Lanka is the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo. How dare a descendant of a coolie brought to Sinhale by colonial rulers talk about ‘TAMIL LANDS’ in Sinhale. Tamil lands are in Tamil Nadu, not in Sinhale.
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Thiha / April 21, 2021
The FBI was brought in by the UNP government at the time. If the UNP was not in power most of the security officials who gave evidence that has helped to unearth this plot even to this extent would never have happened. This is proved by what happend to them after the BOSS came to power. I also remember reading a piece at that time about Handunetti the chief of security at the Shang Gri La Hotel getting caught spying on the FBI officials who were in Colombo and passing information to Chinese intelligence. ( His Phone was intercepted). The story never got and trakcion in the press.
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Thiha / April 21, 2021
I am convinced that there was a ginger group of intelligence personal who were above the law, totally out of control and with absolutely no oversight of the then government who connived and logistically supported these stupid Mulims to blow themselves up. This group were only loyal to Nande and were committed to doing what ever it took to topple the then government. Into this group was introduced a co-conspirator and nut case Sirisena who colluded by blocking the intelligence warnings and arresting DIG Nalaka Silva a Catholic who was hot on the trail of Zaharan.
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nimal fernando / April 21, 2021
nimal fernando / April 23, 2019
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9
1
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This is pure speculation on my part ………. but after observing the aftermath and the behaviour of certain people …….. this is what I believed happened
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The selection of targets defies logic.
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In SL, there is no prior history of Muslims attacking Christian or vice versa ………. no history of animosity between the two communities ……….. the animosity was between the Buddhists and the Muslims …….. so why did this “Muslim” group attack the Christians? And the economic targets; the hotels?
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Sirisena’s inaction – once the warning was received – and keeping the rest of the cabinet in the dark and the gloating of Mahinda and Namal after the event makes me deeply suspicious this is a paid and planned plot by the last Octobers’ coup plotters to capture power at the next presidential election. I suspect this plot was hatched by Basil and executed by Gota with some rouge elements in the forces.
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nimal fernando / April 21, 2021
Continued
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Just like Prabakaran (who had suicide-bombers aplenty) was paid to prevent Tamils from voting ………… Money changed hands between the Rajapakses (with the knowledge of Sirisena; listen to the defence secretary) and the “Leader” of this insignificant “Muslim” outfit to carry out the dastardly act.
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The attackers have had unhindered accesses to training, weapons, funds and freedom to execute their plot. This could not have happened without the knowledge and tacit approval of powers that be.
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nimal fernando / April 21, 2021
That was written the day after ………..
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If you know the people you are dealing with, you don’t need the FBI for conformation.
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Simple commonsense would suffice.
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Nathan / April 21, 2021
nimal,
You are slipping:
confirmation (not conformation).
Rogue elements (not rouge elements), – earlier split.
Keep up your standard; I relish your angle.
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Paul / April 22, 2021
‘Rogue elements (not rouge elements), – earlier split.’
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Nathan, perhaps they were rogue elephants wearing rouge. I wouldn’t put anything past Ranil.
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nimal fernando / April 22, 2021
Nathan,
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One you missed
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“unhindered accesses”
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unhindered access
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Now, the Sinhala_Man, the English teacher will login to correct both of us!
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I studied in the Sinhala stream ……..We had lousy English teachers who made the study of English a drudgery …….. they should’ve first started with all the cuss words. If I had Native Wedda as my teacher my English would be a lot better!
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Eagle Eye / April 22, 2021
nimal fernando,
“…so why did this “Muslim” group attack the Christians?”
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1. In the world the animosity is between Muslims and Christians. Even in Sri Lanka there was no serious problem between Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims. There is speculation that attack in Sri Lanka was a revenge attack to New Zealand mosque attack. Sri Lanka was selected because it was a soft target under ‘Yahapalana’ Government that did not care for security and turned a blind eye to the activities of Muslim extremists to garner support of Muslim politicians to survive in the Parliament.
2. Because Tamil Catholic clergy supported LTTE Tamil terrorists who chased Muslims from Yapanaya giving 24 hour notice and massacred Muslims in the East. Kochchikade Church was sealed because LTTE used the Church to stockpile arms, ammunition and bombs.
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MyView / April 22, 2021
Dear NF.
While agreeing to what you say, I can add something as well.
………..so why did this “Muslim” group attack the Christians?………….
My feeling is that it was to give a false motive like referring to NZ bombing a “few” years back, and to get a soft target. If Buddhists attacked, there will be chaos. So go for a minority. This is called militarily as a “controlled” attack to limit the actual damage but enough to serve a purpose.
……..This could not have happened without the knowledge and tacit approval of powers that be….
Yes they knew and acted. Clearly the Namal Kumara fiasco was the foil planned to detract DIG Nalaka Silva a Catholic, from his pursuing of Zahran etc. as they needed Zahran. Is it not significant that “apparently” the plot was “planned” to do in Sira & Gota only, to shift blame on Ranil. And we have not heard anything of this plot since – not even the conner Namal K is mentioned now.
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nimal fernando / April 22, 2021
MyView & EE,
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That was written one or two days after the attack in 2019 ……… so a lot was still unknown.
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There were 9 or more prior warnings from the Indian secret service with the exact names, times and locations of the attacks. And yet the president did nothing.
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The prime minister Ranil and the defence minister Ruwan was excluded by Sirisena and kept in the dark.
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This is not about partisan politics ……. but purely about getting to the truth.
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Let the buck stop where it should.
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Dilshan / April 21, 2021
All these times based on motives, the mater mind was pointing to Nandasena. These revelations proves the existence prima facie evidence whole Easter attack is a pre meditated plan by state intelligence services with the patronage of war criminal Nandsena.
All the foreign countries probably know this that is why they were so harsh at UNHRC.
For a man who raped and killed more than 40,000 people, few hundreds is nothing. 6.9 million fools have elected two times mass murderer in 2009 and 2019 as President.
If the 2/3 red of the fools do not impeach this fool we as a country are doomed.
The way the country is going we need to go to Bullock cart and eat grass
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Rajash / April 21, 2021
without the Royal family’s consent this scale of attack is not feasible
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Naman / April 21, 2021
Any SL citizen even with the lowest IQ could work it out that a “DEEP STATE” within the Millitary Intelligence had planned the Easter Bombing[EB] to facilitate to bring the “SAVIOUR” from LTTE to win the Presidential Election. I wonder whether the Americans had played a role in EB to make the Green Card holder to be the king of Isle in the Indian Ocean.
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Tony / April 21, 2021
So according to Areen, the boss and the rest are Muslim super devotees who are desperate for 72 virg!ns.. What a ridiculous claim!!!
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Ashan / April 21, 2021
These despicable extremists were used as tools in a larger plot by politicians who had major plans to benefit from this. The Muslims and the Christians had a civil relationship and no animosity, so the mere fact that they attacked churches does not make sense. If these extremists wanted to cause trouble they would have targeted the Buddhist temples, not the Churches.
It is noteworthy that the man who was not popular by the people in this country and did not want him as president, announced his candidacy hours after these terrorist attacks? Talk about timing.
The immediate buzz after the bomb blasts was that only HE can save us from terrorism.
That was the plan.
Why have we been prevented from knowing the details of any investigation? If the present regime had nothing to hide they would have been only too happy to inform the country.
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Raj-UK / April 21, 2021
All good that questions are being asked in Parliament, particularly, when the only person to benefit from the bombing is now the President & the police officer who is able to throw light on the matter is incarcerated indefinitely. However, isn’t it the same Harin Fdo who had prior knowledge of the attack but didn’t even inform the Cardinal (let alone the security forces or his own PM) but selfishly stayed away from church who is now shouting so much?
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whywhy / April 21, 2021
BBS , Aluthgama , Ampara , Gintota , Digana atrocities laid the foundation
for the creation of Saharan violence in my view . Aluthgama incident was
used to get all Muslims to take unified stand against Mahinda regime and
in strongest support of Yahapallana formation . Now , the overwhelming
suspicion is S L P P unleashed further atrocities across the country against
Muslims to consolidate Sinhala votes and get back to Temple trees . Sinhala
politics single handedly could not have master planned to get a Muslim
organisation formed in Srilanka for suicide attacks against fellow innocent
citizens . A fair investigation has to be set up to find out how such an outfit
emerged . Will this ever happen ? At the moment , whole focus of everybody
is purely politically motivated to blame and escape blame game in order to
gain a win situation either to stay in power or to come back to power .
All situations in the country only end up in the hands of politicians and they
play football with these situations . People don’t take anything into their
hands , demonstrating their interest in their own affairs and exercising their
rights in strongest terms . The time has come , people must come forward
to protect their rights whatsoever , for a better tomorrow , otherwise all are
going to end up in a bottomless pit !
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Easton Scott / April 21, 2021
The pot warms, the soup thickens, and the boss frog is now hopping like mad. Will this be the downfall of the Rajapaksa Inc. project? Gosh, I hope so.
Sorry to label people – please take it in context:
Is it inconceivable that the plan was, to pay a muslim to hire a muslim to kill catholics so as to bring a rabid and fearful family back to power, to whitewash their sins, to dismiss lawsuits, to pardon their criminal accomplices, to incarcerate the sleuths, to sell the country, to poison its people, and make hay for generations by making boy babies by the dozen?
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Simon / April 21, 2021
We bark at the wrong tree. Just try to understand what these “Presidential Commissions” are doing. With the two reports that are out viz. (1) The “Commission” on Political Victimization (2) The Commission on the “Easter Bombing”, all “Headed” by Judges of “High Courts” and composed of very many “Judges” and “High Ranking” bureaucrats in the civil service. Reading through the “Mountain” of pages that are produced, one would see how “Meticulously” such “Inquirers” have “Neglected”, “Overlooked” and gone beyond the “Mandate” to either to “Meet” the expectations of the “Big Bosses” or to give “Protection” to culprits and or both. Mind you, these “Commissions” are costing the Tax Payers, millions and millions; but what “Benefits” are derived? Nothing. The only “Beneficiaries” are those Governing the country because the more we “Talk”, “Argue” and “Fight” the main “ISSUES”(economy, cost of living, health, education, development, etc.) faced by the PEOPLE could be shelved and forgotten. The “DOGS” (Few but not the majority of people) will bark and the “CARAVAN” will move.
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Lester / April 21, 2021
Rubbish allegations. Zaharan was well-known to the intelligence services for years. Moda Siri/Ponnil ignored all warnings, as they were bribing Muslim ministers for votes. Terrorists were operating freely in Kattankudy. Buggers should have been arrested as soon as they returned from ISIS training camps. Ponnil Wickremasinghe was warned by Indian intelligence (RAW) 10 days before the attacks but did nothing.
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Sugandh / April 23, 2021
Lester,
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What did you make of the fact Zaharan was on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s payroll during MR’s presidency, and after Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, Mahinda Rajapaksa refused any explanation citing it would be a security breach to divulge why Zaharan was on his payroll?
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Tamil from the north / April 22, 2021
Gota is the mastermind behind the Easter attacks!! Idiots in the country still think the Islamic militants did this. When the Buddhist extremists were attacking the Muslims, why would the Muslims attack the Christians the closest allies they have in the country where both are minorities. I simply cannot understand how there are so many dumb people in this country.
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Paul / April 22, 2021
‘why would the Muslims attack the Christians ..?’
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Muslims attack Christians all over the World, but it suits your Tamil agenda to blame Buddhists. If at all, our leaders can be blamed for political opportunism, Muslim extremists are to blame for the attacks.
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Tamil from the north / April 23, 2021
Paul you are a 3rd class mutt. I never said Buddhists, but I said Buddhist extremists……………there is a clear difference between these two. Idiot, stop seeing everything as ethnic based. It was the goon Gota who happens to be a Buddhist extremist who is behind all these killings. This has nothing to do with the Tamils or Sinhalese. Grow up fool!!!!
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Paul / April 24, 2021
TFTN, dear me we have touched a sensitive spot! That is often where the truth lies.
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Whimpy Kid / April 22, 2021
There is a Sinhala saying like this.
“Paththak giyath aththa kiyapan”
Deep state or shallow state the truth will come out sooner or later.
Justice will be done there is no doubt about that.
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Mohamed Marzook UK / April 22, 2021
Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, why could it not be a part of the training.
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Mahila / April 22, 2021
Fantasy Land and ‘Wonder of Asia and the whole world or may be Universe’ too. This gives me the same effect in mindset as the now Famous ‘October’ Revolution. No, No, you are mistaken, not the Great October revolution that took place in Leningrad/St Petersburg. I am referring to the revolution made by the local Maithri Yapa Maru Sira trying to beat Stalin/Lenin/ Trotsky almost 100 years later in 2018 at their own game. (Before praying at Thirupathy and sojourn in Singapore thereafter, to celebrate the now famous EB)
Cannot believe it, even after it is in the official Hansard. It’s like a Bad Dream or Nightmare. I have a question what will happen to the Parliament Hansard comes to be attached to the Defence Ministry Website, instead of that of the Parliament, after the much awaited/prophesied Military rule, of course to follow in the footsteps of Myanmar, our Buddhist Asian neibhour and friend of yore. Is it still on the map?
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Mahila / April 22, 2021
What will the 6.9 million enlightened wisdom bound voters, who claimed to be the saviours of the nation by patriotic act of trouncing the Traitors in 2019 and 2020, be inclined to do? Knock their Coconut heads of each other and congratulate themselves as to noble act they committed. Enough and more coconut heads, who cannot make their own self sufficient Coconut oil but resort to import of this much needed ingredient for SL cooking. The best of the bad lot. Perhaps knocking their wise heads they could atleast solve the Coconut Oil issue and not drain much valuable foreign exchange. They may resolve it better by banning import of coconut oil and do without it! Roast all vegetables on the open hearth, wooden embers instead as was the case, before the advent of coconut/palm/vegetable oil, which are the cursed western influence corrupting the SL society. Winning ways of Lemon Puff (LP) famous to defeat western influence and colonialism, which robbed the riches of SL. Pardon me, they gave us the technology to convert coconut kernel to edible oil. Sorry LP, you missed out on that too as usual.
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a14455 / April 22, 2021
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Buddhist1 / April 22, 2021
On this Easter attack anniversary day, we saw how the SLPP Parliamentarians carried Saharan’s picture above their head. Did they think for one minute how the Catholics would have felt to see Saharan’s picture above the heads of the ruling party MPs heads. This alone proves beyond any doubt who are honest and who are crooks and thugs.
I rest my case.
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chiv / April 22, 2021
While our rogue politicians are having a field day, I just saw a picture of two young children (youngest looks as young as my child) on the day of anniversary remembering their now deceased parents by embracing the portraits ,imprinted on tombstones. I wonder apart from those who committed such crimes , how evil can our politicians and the people who support them can be , to exploit such tragedy and play their political games.
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Paul / April 22, 2021
Isn’t Sonic a hedgehog? Is there are Rajapakse we know of who is rather prickly?
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Good Sense / April 22, 2021
Hon. Harin Fernando, I believe is a good Christian and as such he knows the statement “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone…..”. He has raised points to ponder, and one should not scuttle that in the guise of Police complaints making Harin to get admitted to hospitals. But in the first place he should clear the air about his father relaying a message not to go to the church on that fateful day. All politicians in Sri Lanka are a set of humbugs who like to point a finger at their opponents. The death and maiming of so many hundreds while worshiping is a terrible carnage although Sri Lanka seem have got over the terrible carnage of worshippers at the Sri Maha bodhi in Anuradhapura in the hands of the LTTE. Loss of lives of this nature cannot be swept under the carpet. Inter-politician deals are galore. Surely must that mean the loss of lives while worshipping. The correct model was presented by Hon. Rauff Hakeem. The actors and the script writers are known. But who are the Directors and Producers of this ghastly episode?
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Buddhist1 / April 23, 2021
Well, with these statements of Manusha and Harin, the eyes of the people got opened and now the Army, Air Force and Navy are out on the streets. What a beautiful Law and Order promised by Gotabaya in his election manifesto,!
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Sugandh / April 24, 2021
An incompetent psychopath like Gotabaya Rajapaksa had no business standing in the presidential election but for the mere goal of self-preservation and immunity from prosecution for his and his family’s past crimes.
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He is on a roll with his goal! Overtly and shamelessly, because there are immoral millions who can be influenced with messages pandering to hate and greed. Also many criminals and corrupted characters in the system to serve Gotabaya and reap the benefits.
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I think it is very logical to think that the Rajapaksas have been long in bed with the deep state just as much as it is clear that a deep state has been in the DNA of independent SriLanka.
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