Parliament was informed today that senior police officers had received information about a trial explosion conducted by Zahran Hashim’s group at Thalankuda on April 16, 2019, prior to the Easter Sunday bombings. Susil Premajayantha, the Leader of the House, stated this in response to a question raised by SJB MP Hector Appuhamy. Former Director of the Intelligence Service, Nilantha Jayawardene, had informed the then IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Senior DIG Ravi Senevirathna about the trial explosion carried out by Zahran’s group. This information was also relayed to the then Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Additionally, both Jayasundara and Senevirathana were informed about Zahran’s whereabouts and their network. According to the Leader of the House, on April 20, 2023, it was revealed that the Attorney General and the Ministry of Public Security were taking action against those responsible for the failure to prevent the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.
