Intelligence head failed in his duty - Kiriella | Daily News

Intelligence head failed in his duty - Kiriella

National Intelligence Head Sisira Mendis had only written to the Inspector General of Police on April 9 sharing information of an alleged planned attack, but had not informed relevant authorities including the President, Prime Minister and the 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 contacted them directly,” Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development Minister and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said.

Participating in the debate on the proclamation of a state of emergency in Parliament yesterday, Minister Kiriella queried whether those in the National Security Council and some intelligence officers were playing politics in the lead-up to and in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

He pointed out that neither the PM or the State Defence Minister had been invited to attend the National Security Council 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 stressed.

The Minister said about 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 that the authorities had identified as being behind the attacks. “This is not an issue that just cropped up,” he said.


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