No one disputed Fmr. President’s decisions at NSC meetings

• Political situation at that time, priorities of the state policy, the restrictions imposed on him prevented from taking any action against extremism

After making certain decisions at the National Security Council (NSC) meetings by former President Maithripala Sirisena, no one disputed or made suggestions on those decisions taken by him, including former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara yesterday told PCOI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Testifying before the Commission, Mr. Jayasundara said all the officials who were presented at the NSC thought it was not good to criticize those decisions taken by the former President.

“At the NSC meetings, there was an atmosphere where no one had made any suggestion to the decisions taken by the former President. No one could interfere with the decisions taken by him,” he said. Accordingly, the Commissioner questioned the witness when Zahran Hashim and his clan spreading extremism since 2017, and why couldn’t Mr. Jayasundara understand as to where it would end.

In response Mr. Jayasundara said he was well aware about the situation, but the political situation at that time, the priorities of the state policy, and the restrictions imposed on him prevented him from taking any action against extremism.

He added that the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) had conducted confidential inquiries about Islamic extremism, as per his order.