Sirisena ordered to appear in court over Easter attacks comments
Former President Maithripala Sirisena has been ordered to appear in court on 04 April to make a statement over his recent comments related to the Easter Sunday attacks.
The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court issued the order after the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) submitted a report to court based on investigations it had conducted.
The CID had earlier recorded a statement from the former President over his controversial comments.
The CID had recorded a statement from Sirisena for over 5 hours on Monday.
Police Media Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the claims were investigated and legal action initiated.
Sirisena had said recently that he was prepared to spill the beans on the Easter Sunday attacks and reveal the true mastermind who orchestrated the killing of over 250 people.
Sirisena had told reporters in Kandy that while those arrested were involved in the attacks the mastermind is still free.
He said that he is prepared to reveal the details behind closed doors to the judiciary if the judiciary keeps it under wraps.
“No one has said who really carried out those attacks. I know who did it. If the judiciary issues an order I am prepared to reveal who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks,” the former President said.
Sirisena had been accused of failing to prevent the attacks which took place when he was President.
On Easter Sunday in 2019, suicide bombers killed at least 253 people and injured some 500 at churches and top-end hotels across Sri Lanka.
Most victims were Sri Lankans, but at least 38 foreigners were among the dead, including British, Indian and US citizens.
ISIS had claimed responsibility for the attacks but it later came to light that a local group led by Zaharan Hashim carried out the bombings. (Colombo Gazette)
