Sri Lanka blames Muslim group for Easter horror


Colombo, Apr 22 (IANS): The government on Monday blamed a Sri Lankan Muslim outfit for the horrific serial bombings which killed 290 people in the country on Easter Sunday and said the attacks were "a colossal intelligence failure".

The National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) carried out the eight explosions across three cities in Sri Lanka, also injuring over 500 people, the government told the media.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said: "National Thowheed Jamath was involved. It is a local organisation. We don't know whether they are linked to outsiders. All those arrested are locals."

Senaratne, who was addressing the media along with other Ministers, called the well-planned attacks a "colossal intelligence failure" and stated that despite receiving prior information, the attacks could not be prevented, media reports said.

The Minister said that on April 4, international intelligence agencies -- which he did not identify -- had warned of these attacks and even mentioned that the targets would be churches and tourist destinations.

The Inspector General of Police was informed of this on April 9, and even names of suspected terrorists were given to him, Senaratne said.

He said the country's Security Council wanted to meet on Sunday but it did not happen as President Maithripala Sirirsena was overseas.

"As a government, we apologize to families and other institutions. The problem is that even when we met the Prime Minister at the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister was also in the dark," he said.

"He had seen this circular only when we did. He was left out of Security Council meetings."

Two Sri Lankan Ministers, Mano Ganesan and Harin Fernando, also stated on Twitter that the government had prior information about an impending attack.

Calling for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Senaratne said: "This morning (Monday) the President, the Prime Minister and State Defence Minister met for the first time. We need a unified political leadership today to overcome this situation and we will take every action to eradicate terrorism from our country."

Sri Lanka has been plagued in recent times by an unseemly conflict between the President and the Prime Minister.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ahmed K. C., Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    There is no religious connection to such heinous act.
    Those who misguide them are fanatics and those who carry out such brutal murders are totally lunatics.
    Nearly 50 Muslim majority countries who should unite and condemn these terror activities. Unfortunately we don't see it happening.
    Human and Humanity first then the religion.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil Pinto, Dubai/ Udupi

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    Sri Lanka's Christian's are poorer than even Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists there..but the terrorists wanted to make a statement and maximum mileage by targeting them on Easter day and get world's condemnation including Donald Trump and the Pope

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rao, Udupi

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    Trying to achieve religious objective (misconceived objective) or settle hatred through violence by certain terror groups is a highly dangerous trend. But it is growing fast.

    All countries and people should join together to nip it in bud.

    We are sure all people of all religion who understand humanity will support this without any hesitation.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Logical Thinking, India

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    My sympathies to all people who lost their loved one in this inhuman barbaric attack...

    No religion permits to kill the innocent in the name of god... those who do.. they are not true believer of their respective religion...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    Such terrorists perform all the religious rituals first and attack in the name of God. (thinking there is salvation if they die with suicidal acts) Strange breed of people !

    DisAgree Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    Actually world over, people say Terror has no religion, but then all terrorists are of same religion. How come?

    DisAgree [21] Agree [66] Reply Report Abuse

  • HASHIM, Kundapura

    Mon, Apr 22 2019

    Here why world over people say terror has no religion.
    "The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property in an attempt to coerce or intimidate governments or societies to achieve political, religious or ideological objectives"

    DisAgree [41] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse


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