On October 21, 2024, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila held a press conference at his party headquarters, revealing significant findings related to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. Gammanpila accused senior police officials, including former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ravi Seneviratne and former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekera, of failing to act on critical intelligence before the attacks. He demanded criminal charges against them and other officials for negligence that allowed the bombings to occur.
Gammanpila disclosed details from two investigative reports, which were compiled by committees appointed by then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2023 to examine the attacks. According to Gammanpila, a foreign intelligence agency had warned of an imminent suicide bombing by the extremist group National Thowheed Jamaat on April 9, 2019. This alert, sent to DIG Seneviratne, included specific details about the suspects, their locations, and plans. However, Seneviratne allegedly failed to act immediately, leaving the letter unattended for 12 days, during which the attackers prepared for the April 21 bombings, resulting in 269 deaths and over 500 injuries.
The reports recommend criminal prosecution or disciplinary action against 17 officials for their roles in failing to prevent the attack. Gammanpila argued that Seneviratne, who now serves as Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, should be removed from his position given his involvement in the investigation. He claimed that Seneviratne’s presence in such a senior role compromises the integrity of any further inquiries into the bombings.
Gammanpila also accused the current administration of trying to conceal the findings to protect political allies, calling it an abuse of power and a violation of the public’s right to information. He pointed out that while the reports had been submitted to relevant officials, they had not been made accessible to the public. “Transparency is essential,” Gammanpila said, urging the President to release the full content of the reports to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
A N J de Silva report on Easter attack here…
He noted that the investigation found evidence that Seneviratne had knowledge of the key suspect, Zaharan Hashim, for years before the attack. Despite multiple intelligence reports about Hashim’s involvement in terrorist activities, including the vandalism of Buddhist statues and a murder, the authorities allegedly failed to take decisive action. This inaction, Gammanpila contended, allowed Hashim and his associates to execute their plans undisturbed.
Furthermore, Gammanpila claimed that the delay in handling the intelligence warning letter prevented authorities from implementing surveillance measures that could have led to the arrest of the suspects before the attack. He argued that immediate action following the receipt of the letter, such as deploying search teams or monitoring locations linked to the suspects, could have averted the tragedy.
Addressing the President directly, Gammanpila accused him of appointing unsuitable individuals to crucial positions, leading to serious mistakes within the first month of the new administration. He called for Seneviratne’s immediate dismissal and an apology from the President for attempting to suppress the report’s findings. If these demands are not met, he warned of initiating an impeachment process under Article 38 of the Constitution for abuse of power and constitutional violations.
Gammanpila announced plans to disclose a second report on October 28, which he said would further expose the administration’s alleged misconduct related to the Easter bombings investigation. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the public’s right to know the truth behind the attacks and holding those responsible accountable.
