Imminent threat contained, but possibility of 'Lone Wolf' attacks - Army Commander

Army Commander Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake on Wednesday told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks that while the immediate threat has been contained, it does not mean that the terrorist threat is completely over. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

Army Commander Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake on Wednesday told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks that while the immediate threat has been contained, it does not mean that the terrorist threat is completely over. 

"We are now faced with an international terrorist threat and are currently fighting an unseen enemy," the Army Commander told the PSC. He added that though the immediate threat has been contained, there is always the possibility of a single determined individual carrying out a "Lone Wolf" attack using any number of methods such as vehicles, knives fire or water. "We are working towards ensuring that the situation does not escalate, but no one can say that this is completely over. That is not practical."

He pointed out that one could not give a time frame on exactly how long it would take to defeat the threat, noting that they were still vigilant about the remnants of the LTTE even 10 years after the defeat of the group. 

Lt. General Senanayake also said that intelligence agencies were being further strengthened and that they have received the support of intelligence agencies of neighbouring countries. There was also now better coordination among the Tri-Forces and Police.   

The PSC questioned the Army Commander on claims that he had been pressured to release a terrorist suspect by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. "No one has pressured me to release any suspect," he insisted. 

Referring to the incident in question, Lt. General Senanayake said that the Minister had called him thrice to inquire about a suspect named Ishan Ahmed.

"I know the Minister personally and he called to ask if we had someone by that name in custody. I told him that I did not know and that I would try to find out. When he called a second time, I still had not found any information on this individual. By the time he called a third time, I had got to know from our intelligence agencies that a person by this name had indeed been taken into custody from Dehiwala. I told the Minister he should give me a call one-and-half years later. It was a very cordial conversation."

When PSC member Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka questioned the Army Commander as to why he told Mr Bathiudeen to call him one-and-half years later, he stated that this was because he had been made aware that the person being referred to was connected to a network and that the usual detention period for such suspects under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations could last up to one-and-half years. 

"We have to hand over a suspect within 24 hours of the arrest to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID). They could hold that suspect for up to one-and-half years. This period has now been reduced to one year. I was speaking from my experience with regards to similar cases when I gave the time frame," he explained. 

(Pics by Ishanka Sunimal)