Sri Lanka’s former president Maithripala Sirisena on Monday appeared before the crime investigation department to record a statement on his recent remarks on the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings that he was “aware” of the masterminds of the attacks that killed 270 people, including 11 Indians.

Sirisena, 72, was president between 2015 January and 2019 November. He had previously denied any knowledge of the attacks on April 21, 2019.

Nihal Thalduwa, police spokesperson, told reporters that a five-hour-long statement was recorded.

Sirisena arrived around 10:30 in the morning and left around 4 pm, the police said.

Sirisena making a public statement in the central town of Kandy on Wednesday said “he was aware of the masterminds of the attacks.: “I know who did it”, he said.

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The Opposition National People’s Power lawyers met the Attorney General on Monday and urged him to issue an order to arrest Sirisena.

“It is a crime to conceal information,” Sunil Watagala, an NPP lawyer said.

The Catholic Church, rights groups and Opposition parties are united in their cry for Sirisena’s arrest.

Sirisena had said that he received information three weeks ago and that he would be willing to testify in court on camera. He said that if he were to make an open court statement, his life and his family could be in danger.

Nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS carried out a series of blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka.

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However, the timing of the bombing ahead of the 2019 presidential election was the subject of conspiracy theories which suggested that the Rajapaksa brothers then in opposition had taken political advantage of the attacks.

Sirisena was accused and found guilty in a special presidential panel he appointed as the country’s president. The findings blamed him for inaction on the prior intelligence received on the attacks.

Later, he was ordered to pay Sri Lankan rupee 100 million to the relatives of the victims of the attack as compensation. He has so far paid only a part of it.

Sri Lanka’s former president Maithripala Sirisena on Monday appeared before the crime investigation department to record a statement on his recent remarks on the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings that he was “aware” of the masterminds of the attacks that killed 270 people, including 11 Indians.

Sri Lanka’s former president Maithripala Sirisena on Monday appeared before the crime investigation department to record a statement on his recent remarks on the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings that he was “aware” of the masterminds of the attacks that killed 270 people, including 11 Indians. Sirisena, 72, was president between 2015 January and 2019 November. He had previously denied any knowledge of the attacks on April 21, 2019. Nihal Thalduwa, police spokesperson, told reporters that a five-hour-long statement was recorded. Sirisena arrived around 10:30 in the morning and left around 4 pm, the police said. Sirisena making a public statement in the central town of Kandy on Wednesday said “he was aware of the masterminds of the attacks.: “I know who did it”, he said. Also Read | Lok Sabha polls 2024: Congress releases sixth list including names of five candidates The Opposition National People’s Power lawyers met the Attorney General on Monday and urged him to issue an order to arrest Sirisena. “It is a crime to conceal information,” Sunil Watagala, an NPP lawyer said. The Catholic Church, rights groups and Opposition parties are united in their cry for Sirisena’s arrest. Sirisena had said that he received information three weeks ago and that he would be willing to testify in court on camera. He said that if he were to make an open court statement, his life and his family could be in danger. Nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS carried out a series of blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka. Also Read | Maldives seeks debt relief from India after insisting on troop withdrawal However, the timing of the bombing ahead of the 2019 presidential election was the subject of conspiracy theories which suggested that the Rajapaksa brothers then in opposition had taken political advantage of the attacks. Sirisena was accused and found guilty in a special presidential panel he appointed as the country’s president. The findings blamed him for inaction on the prior intelligence received on the attacks. Later, he was ordered to pay Sri Lankan rupee 100 million to the relatives of the victims of the attack as compensation. He has so far paid only a part of it.

Sri Lanka: Former President Maithripala Sirisena quizzed by police for 5 hours after remark on Easter bombings

A Sri Lankan court on Friday ordered police to exhume and relocate the remains of an Easter Sunday suicide bomber buried in a public cemetery in the eastern district of Batticaloa, after residents' protests stoked tension.

Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels across Sri Lanka killed more than 250 people in the country's worst suicide bombings since it defeated dissident Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, ending a 26-year-long civil war.

Hundreds of people, including the relatives of those killed in the attack at Zion Church in Batticaloa, protested this week over the burial of the militant in a Hindu cemetery nearby, saying it hurt their sentiments.

Protesters blocked roads and law enforcement fired tear gas shells to disperse them, but an uneasy calm has prevailed since, police said.

"The remains will be exhumed on Monday and kept in a mortuary until the government agent finds a suitable place to bury them," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters.

The bomber was buried in a Hindu public cemetery after Muslims declined to allow his burial in a community graveyard.

Police say at least nine members of two little-known local Islamist outfits, the National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim, carried out the bombings.

The government last week withdrew an emergency law imposed after the Easter attacks that had allowed police and military to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders. 
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A Sri Lankan court on Friday ordered police to exhume and relocate the remains of an Easter Sunday suicide bomber buried in a public cemetery in the eastern district of Batticaloa, after residents' protests stoked tension.

A Sri Lankan court on Friday ordered police to exhume and relocate the remains of an Easter Sunday suicide bomber buried in a public cemetery in the eastern district of Batticaloa, after residents' protests stoked tension. Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels across Sri Lanka killed more than 250 people in the country's worst suicide bombings since it defeated dissident Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, ending a 26-year-long civil war. Hundreds of people, including the relatives of those killed in the attack at Zion Church in Batticaloa, protested this week over the burial of the militant in a Hindu cemetery nearby, saying it hurt their sentiments. Protesters blocked roads and law enforcement fired tear gas shells to disperse them, but an uneasy calm has prevailed since, police said. "The remains will be exhumed on Monday and kept in a mortuary until the government agent finds a suitable place to bury them," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters. The bomber was buried in a Hindu public cemetery after Muslims declined to allow his burial in a community graveyard. Police say at least nine members of two little-known local Islamist outfits, the National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim, carried out the bombings. The government last week withdrew an emergency law imposed after the Easter attacks that had allowed police and military to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders.

Sri Lanka court orders remains of Easter attacker moved after protests

Easter Sunday (April 21) bomb blasts at three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka killed more than 200 people and wounded at least 450, police officials said, the first major attack on the Indian Ocean island since the end of a civil war 10 years ago.

Sri Lanka bombings death toll passes 200, seven arrested