Sri Lanka's President sacks defence secretary, police chief for ignoring intel on Easter Sunday bombings

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday asked for the resignation of Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and police chief Pujith Jayasundara for their failure to prevent the deadly serial bombing.

Nine suicide bombers, including a woman, were involved in the massive Easter Sunday bombings. (Image: Getty)

Maithripala Sirisena sacked Defense Secretary and police chief

Army Commander Daya Ratnayake is being considered for the post of Defence Secretary

The attacks killed more than 350 people and injured around 500

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday asked for the resignation of Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and police chief Pujith Jayasundara for their failure to prevent the deadly serial bombing despite having intelligence inputs about the attacks. The action was taken soon after Sirisena addressed the nation on Tuesday where he admitted that there was a lapse in security and said that he would make the required changes in top positions in the security establishments at the earliest. Sirisena had also said that the people were questioning why action had not been taken by the top security officials despite the availability of intelligence support from a friendly neighbouring country. Reports also suggest that former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake is being considered for the post of Defence Secretary. Days after the suicide attack, terror outfit Islamic State claimed the responsibility for the same, which killed more than 350 people and injured around 500 during serial blasts in three churches and three luxury hotels. According to police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara, nine of the suicide bombers who carried out the attack were mostly from middle-class backgrounds. “They’re quite well-educated people. We believe one of them studied in the UK and then, later on, did his post-graduation in Australia before coming back to settle in Sri Lanka,” Junior Defense Minister had said. The President also said that since 2017, there were intelligence information about the emergence of terrorist groups and the fact that some of them were receiving training in foreign countries. "Our security services kept a close vigilance on these groups," Sirisena said. Although there was intelligence report about these attacks, he was not informed about them, he said. President Sirisena also said that the country is faced with a different type of terrorism unlike the LTTE which had engaged in war for nearly three decades. He also vowed to eradicate the local radical group which has links to an international terrorist movement. Nine suicide bombers, including a woman, were involved in the massive Easter Sunday bombings that killed at least 359 people.

Published at : 25 Apr 2019 09:06 PM (IST)

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