Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara yesterday testifying before the Presidential Commission of inquiry probing the Easter Sunday Attacks strongly stated that former President Maithripala Sirisena must take responsibility for the Easter Sunday attacks.
He added that the attacks took place due to a breakdown in long-term political plans.
Testifying further former IGP Jayasundara said before the Commission that following intelligence information that there was going to be bomb attacks on April 09, 2019 as the IGP, he informed Senior DIGs Nandana Munasinghe, Latheef, Priyalal Dasanayake and Waruna Jayasundara who had been appointed to cover the whole island, regarding the attack that such an attack was possible. And also he said that the provincial officers were also informed regarding the attack.
This intelligence information was received from abroad, and it was not confirmed by the State Intelligence Service. That is the reason why I informed several people to look into this information, thinking that if this information was said in public, there would be a public uproar. Then, the Commission asked if he had informed the President or the Prime Minister about this information.
Answering to the query he said that they were not informed as this was not confirmed as intelligence information. Further he said that “I was under a lot of stress because of the President. He did not have a good relationship with me and at no time in history has the IGP provided intelligence to the President. He also told the Commission that the reason for not having telephone conversations but he spoke to may be the brother of the former President. “At that time the brother of former President Maithripala Sirisena was the Chairman of the Telecom, Mobitel and he should be the only reason I lost what I was talking”, he said.
Former IGP Pujitha Jayasundara told the Commission that President Maithripala Sirisena had informed him on April 23 after the Easter attack that he could not take responsibility for the Easter attack as he could not accept responsibility for it.
President Maithripala Sirisena invited me to come on April 23 after the Easter attack. I went at around 8 pm.There were three MPs Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Thilanga Sumathipala, and Mahinda Amaraweera, he said.
After they left the place President Maithripala came and said, “I was not even informed by you of this attack. Hemasiri was not informed and I cannot take this responsibility. Therefore, you should take responsibility for the attack.
I suggest that I give you a high post or an ambassadorial post abroad. I was told that the Malalgoda Commission could save me and they will take care of it”. I did not say anything at that time and left the place,” Jayasundara said.
“Then Mr. Udaya R. Seneviratne told me on April 26 that I should take responsibility. I said why am I the only one accepting this responsibility. I have 34 years of service in the Police Department.
“I told him my wife and children would be orphaned if anything happened to me,” he said.
He also said that the CID had charged me and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando with murder without any recommendation. Former IGP Jayasundera was ordered to appear before the Commission on September 28 for further testimony.
