Hon. Mujibur Rahman

¶ 01 The people gave you power. Your policy statement said so. The President too repeatedly promised during the election campaign that those behind the attacks would be revealed, and even said there was a team ready to do it. He named dates and timelines, including saying in the Provincial Council election period that by 21 April action would be taken.

¶ 02 Yet now, at the recent event marking His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s 50 years in the priesthood, the President said, “The government has had to face the difficult challenge of subjecting the government to scrutiny.” If the government was involved in killings, it must be held accountable and investigated. You cannot wriggle out of it.

¶ 03 Before the election, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said clearly that the government was involved. He knew it when he accepted the Presidency. He promised to catch the masterminds. Now he says, “We must be subjected to scrutiny.” Not “be scrutinized,” but conduct investigations, bring those responsible before the law. Do not try to save your own skin, Mr. President. Do not switch tracks.

¶ 04 When you were in the Opposition, you named names. You said who was involved. What happened now? We all know a segment of the State stood behind it. Who helped Zaharan? Who gave him ammunition? Who gave him political patronage? How were the bullets moved to Panadura? We know. You know. The President knows. And with that knowledge, you took power.

¶ 05 The previous governments failed to arrest the masterminds. Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power promising to arrest the mastermind. Instead, he transferred and harassed officers who were investigating—Shani Abeysekara was jailed; Ravi Seneviratne was sent home. Bogus cases were filed against people like Hizbullah and Badiudeen. The people saw that, and that is why that government was defeated. The public, who became victims of the Easter Sunday bombings, rejected them and placed trust in you.

¶ 06 I too was a victim. We were harassed, accused; my child had to change schools. We were left helpless. Therefore, the President cannot now say there are people within the State who are stakeholders in this. He knew it when he became President. I ask him: did you only now realize there are stakeholders inside the government? Did you not know when you sought the Presidency and power? Do the job you took on—do not choke up in front of the Cardinal. Tell us who is responsible. Is Gotabaya Rajapaksa involved? Is Suresh Sallay involved?

¶ 07 You earlier said the Rajapaksas and Suresh Sallay were behind this. If not, say so. Why hide it now? Bring the information out. Who is the mastermind?

¶ 08 You now have Major Generals, Majors, Sherlock Holmeses and John Watsons with you. You can arrest suspects. The two who investigated this best were Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekara. When they were harassed under the Rajapaksas, only the SJB consistently defended them. Now they are here. You brought Shani back to catch those responsible. You told the people that with Shani and Ravi you could arrest the culprits. But now you say, “Even within the government there are people; go find them.” Who are they?

¶ 09 Zaharan’s wife is alive. On 26 April 2019, at Sainthamaruthu, Zaharan’s extended family detonated a suicide bomb killing 14 of their own. One person died outside—Zaharan’s brother Shaini. He did not die in the blast; he was shot. Who shot him?

¶ 10 Zahara’s wife testified to the Commission that when she regained consciousness, someone called her out and she heard a familiar Tamil voice; she thought it was Sara’s voice and saw Sara being taken away. Who took Sara? Ask Major Subasinghe where Sara was taken on 26 April. Who was the Eastern Commander? It was your own then-Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera, acting as Eastern Commander under emergency. Who took Sara? Ask Major Subasinghe. Where did they take her? You are in government; find out where Sara is. She did not die. We know the previous government wanted to confirm she was dead and even took a third DNA report to falsely claim it. Who went to get that third DNA report? The IGP, Wickramaratne. Who went with him? Ask him. That network within your government that aided this is still at work.

¶ 11 I will state a new matter. At a recent religious event in Bambalapitiya, someone taking photos was arrested. The police identified him as “Podi Zaharan,” a member of Zaharan’s group known to have liaised with ISIS “Sonic Sonic” and emailed ISIS to claim the attacks. He was arrested on the 28th of last month and released on 1 July. How is that possible? He was in remand from 2019 to 2023 on Easter-related matters, then out on bail, and now moves confidently taking photos in Muslim religious events—then is quickly released. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old from Mawanella, Suhail, has been held for nine months under the PTA for an anti-Israel video on his phone. This young man, from a poor family, missed his cabin crew graduation; he is remanded with narcotics and hardened offenders. Is this Mossad or our Police? Why is “Podi Zaharan” free in two days while Suhail languishes nine months? It shows the Easter-linked network is operating within the State. Why is that network not being arrested?

¶ 12 You say you have only two more minutes for me.

¶ 13 Next point: Despite claiming Sara died and doing DNA tests, a Mobitel number was obtained under “Sara” on 2020.04.01. I table that report.

¶ 14 Placed in the Library.

¶ 15 Ravi Seneviratne—now Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Peace—told the Commission that Zaharan had someone above him. Who was it? Reveal it now. Who was above Zaharan?

¶ 16 Who is “Abu Hind”? RAW did a training with our intelligence; during that, an officer was introduced as “Abu Hind.” Who is he? Find out. Your own officers who worked these probes know. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa also said Sara is in India. We said the container; you can now arrest.

¶ 17 In Mawanella, one Taslim, who gave information on Vanathavilluwa, was shot in the head and is still disabled; he has not been compensated. We urge immediate compensation—at least Rs. 5 million, as is standard for informants—because his tip led to discovery of the Vanathavilluwa arms and explosives cache.

¶ 18 Finally, I raise an important case: Mohamed Yaseer, a Sri Lankan moulavi, who went to India in December 2021 for medical treatment with his wife, was arrested by the Indian military on 27.12.2021 on suspicion. He had no links to terrorism in Sri Lanka but has been jailed in India for years. I request the government to act to secure his release.

¶ 19 Thank you.