Kiriella questions whether NSC and intelligence agencies are playing politics

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella today (24) questioned whether those in the country's National Security Council (NSC) and some officers in the intelligence agencies were playing politics in the lead-up to and aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella today (24) questioned whether those in the country's National Security Council (NSC) and some officers in the intelligence agencies were playing politics in the lead-up to and aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. 

Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the proclamation of a state of emergency, Mr Kiriella noted that the Director of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Sisira Mendis had only written a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on April 9 sharing information of an alleged planned attack, but had not informed relevant authorities including the President, Prime Minister and State Defence Minister. "You can't escape by writing letters. Intelligence agencies are supposed to be hands-on. He could have picked up the phone and reached out to them," he remarked. 

He pointed out that neither the PM and the State Defence Minister had been invited to NSC meetings since last October and noted that even after the attacks took place, those of the NSC refused to attend a meeting of the council summoned by the PM. 

"Who are they serving if they aren't keeping the President, PM and State Defence Minister informed of such threats? The security establishment cannot play politics," he asserted. 

The Minister further said that about a 100 more suspects were being sought in relation to the Easter Sunday attacks, and produced a newspaper report from March, 2014 that conveyed warnings about the group authorities had fingered as being behind the attacks. "This is not an issue that just cropped up," he insisted.