Spy chief fails to act on tip-offs for Easter attacks

Sri Lanka received clear warnings of impending attacks ahead of the Easter Sunday bombings and intelligence figures may have let the atrocities proceed, an MPs’ inquiry has suggested.

An investigation by the country’s parliament suggested a further probe into whether parts of the security apparatus chose not to act, to undermine the government ahead of elections.

A total of 269 people died in the bombing of three churches and three hotels on April 21 this year. Eight suicide bombers detonated during the attacks, including their ringleader, an extremist preacher called Zahran Hashim.

A report by a parliamentary committee has now blamed the country’s spy chief for the intelligence failures that led to the deaths.

Nilantha Jayawardena, chief of the State Intelligence Service received tip-offs on possible attacks more than a fortnight before the bombings, but there were delays sharing the intelligence with other agencies.

Informants even said Zahran planned suicide bombings at churches and hotels on April 21.

The report said Jayawardena’s responsibility was made worse because he had asked higher-level officials nearly a year earlier to bring investigations into Zahran under his control. Sri Lanka’s National Security Council met on

April 9, with the defence ministry secretary asking Jayawardena for a briefing on Zahran.

Jawaywardena said he would send a note later, the report said.

‘‘If the matter was discussed, steps may have been taken to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks,’’ the parliamentary report found.

The report said that the State Intelligence Service did not report to the military on possible attacks until April 19. The next day, Jayawardena called the national police chief to say there was a high probability that an attack would occur on April 21.

On Easter morning, Jayawardena called the police chief again to say that ‘‘something dangerous would happen on that day,’’ the report said.

The report also said ‘‘questions must be raised as to whether Zahran had the support and patronage of some politicians and intelligence’’.

MPs also asked concluded that ‘‘further investigations will be needed to understand whether those with vested interests did not act on intelligence so as to create chaos and instil fear and uncertainty in the country in the lead-up to the presidential election’’.

The attacks triggered communal violence against Muslims and the country had ‘‘witnessed new levels of fear among the public and criticism towards the political leadership and security establishment.

It also prompted calls for change of regime.

a