Previous regime did not recognise our efforts

Although the Police Officers had requested the previous government to appreciate them, with regard to the three major search operations with regard to key incidents carried out after the Easter attacks,it was not considered by any officers, SSP of the Monaragala Police and former Senior Superintendent of Ampra Police Division- Samantha Deepal Wijesekara informed the PCOI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

SSP Wijesekara said that the officers who had carried out Nintavur, Sammanthurai and Saindamarudu operations on April 26, 2019 had requested to appreciate them after recovering explosives that could have led to another major attack in the country.

“When we made inquiries about the appreciation, the senior officers said that they will consider it after completing the proceedings of the Presidential Commission probing Easter Sunday attacks,” the witness informed the Commission.

SSP Wijesekara said that the senior officers informed them that there might be key findings from the PCOI with regard to previous senior officers involving the attacks and only after the completion of the inquiry, the government will consider about the matter.

“The SIS officer who found the Nintavur and Sammanthurai safe houses which stored substances to create a massive explosion was also yet to be recognised by any government,” the witness informed the Commission.

However, Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Director DIG Nalaka de Silva testifying before the Commission quoting third party sources said that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s government had awarded Presidential Awards to Senior Police Officers including SIS Director for their involvement in investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.