SIS Shared List of 129 ISIS-Linked Individuals Before Easter Attacks, Court Told
The Court of Appeal was told that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had provided the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with a list of 129 individuals, including Easter Sunday suicide bomber Zahran Hashim, who were allegedly influenced by ISIS ideology months before the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, but senior CID officials had failed to act on the intelligence.
The submissions were made by President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena during the hearing of a writ petition filed by former Director of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks.
Appearing for the petitioner, Jayawardena told the Court of Appeal that the report of the Janak de Silva Presidential Commission states that the SIS submitted the list of 129 followers of the National Thowheeth Jama’ath, including Zahran Hashim, to the CID on January 31, 2019.
He argued that the report identified individuals promoting ISIS ideology in Sri Lanka and questioned why the CID had failed to arrest them despite receiving detailed intelligence.
Jayawardena further submitted that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies had also warned Sri Lankan authorities in 2018 about the presence of an Islamist extremist group operating in the country.
Referring to an affidavit previously filed by former SIS Director Nilantha Jayawardena, the President’s Counsel said the SIS had forwarded 97 intelligence reports to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) between October 31, 2017, and the Easter Sunday bombings, detailing extremist activities carried out or planned by Zahran Hashim and his associates. Copies of those reports had also been sent to the CID.
He also noted that investigations into the vandalism of Buddha statues in Mawanella and the discovery of explosives in Wanathawilluwa had already linked Zahran and his followers to extremist activities. In addition, an SIS intelligence officer had reportedly identified locations where the suspects were believed to be hiding.
According to Jayawardena, the same intelligence officer had previously testified before a commission of inquiry that the Easter Sunday attacks could have been prevented if the CID had acted on the available intelligence.
The President’s Counsel also referred to an intelligence alert issued by India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) on April 4, 2019, warning that followers of the National Thowheeth Jama’ath led by Zahran Hashim were planning an attack in Sri Lanka.
He said former SIS Director Nilantha Jayawardena had immediately forwarded the warning to the IGP with copies to the CID. However, according to the submissions, the letter reached the office of then Senior Deputy Inspector General Ravi Seneviratne on April 9, 2019, was forwarded to then Deputy Inspector General Nagahawatte only on April 16, and was ultimately sent to the Director of the CID on April 22—the day after the Easter Sunday bombings.
Jayawardena further referred to evidence given by Ravi Seneviratne before the Janak de Silva Presidential Commission, stating that Seneviratne had been overseas attending a conference from April 7 to April 13, 2019, resumed duties on April 16, and that the intelligence letter left his office only on April 19.
He also told the court that Seneviratne had admitted before the commission that the CID was already aware of Zahran Hashim and the activities of the extremist group but had stated there was “no action the CID could have taken” based on the available information.
Questioning how the same officials could now be entrusted with investigating the Easter Sunday attacks, Jayawardena urged the Court of Appeal to take the matter into consideration.
Following the submissions, the Court of Appeal postponed further hearing of the writ petition until July 21, 2026.
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