Channel4: Startling revelations on Lasantha assassination, Tripoli Platoon, & Easter Attacks

COLOMBO (News 1st); Channel 4's (UK) Dispatches released a program to reveal shocking details over the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, which it says alleges complicity by officials from the government.

The program contained details related to the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks, as well as the assassination of the Editor of the Sunday Leader, the late-Lasantha Wickrmetunge.

Claims made by Hanzeer Azad Maulana, who at one-time was the Spokesperson and Finance Secretary of present-Sri Lankan State Minister Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, and IP Nishantha de Silva, the former head of the organized crimes investigation unit at the CID, later who fled Sri Lanka, as well as an un-named Government Official are included in the program.

Hanzeer Azad Maulana claims that he and Pillayan met then-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa when asked to form a paramilitary death squad called 'The Tripoli Platoon.'

"He said to Pillayan, "You select your best team and together work. The Tripoli Platoon was working under the direct command of Gotabaya. They selected people against the government. They were targeted and killed. We met Gotabaya in his room. He had the Sunday Leader paper in front of him. He said this 'Balla'. In Sinhala 'Balla' means dog. This Balla is always playing with me, and he says Lasantha should be killed. If you can, you can do it immediately. As soon as possible," said Hanzeer Azad Maulana in the program.

Former Police Inspector Nishantha Silva, also featured in the program revealed details on the investigation surrounding the murder of Lasantha Wickremetunge that led him to 'The Tripoli Platoon'.

"Along with other information connected to the assassination, I identified five telephone numbers belonging to the members of the Tripoli Platoon, used for the murder of Lasantha Wickremetunge. Gotabaya Rajapaksa had direct monitoring of the Tripoli Platoon. So, I summoned Gotabaya to the CID. He asked me 'Why did you name as a suspect in Lasantha Wickrmetunge's case?' I said, 'I only do what is required, I do not do unnecessary things. I don't care who you are, I will name you as a suspect.He didn't look very pleased with me," he revealed in the program.

Hanzeer Azad Maulana had made a statement on how Pillayan met with the Easter Bombers.

"Pillayan told me, I have some prisoners with me. They are very interesting. They are very extreme. He said you meet one person. So one prison guard brought one person. He was a dark person with a beard. I say salam, and he says salam. Muslims greeting, assalamu alaikum. His name is Zainee Maulavi. I've never seen like this people. They are waiting for death. They want death, death, death. They want to go to paradise. But Pillayan says it is good, we will use them. They are not interested in anything in the world. "But we can use them."

Hanzeer Azad Maulana said that on Pillayans orders, he found the men a lawyer, and money for bail.

"In January 2018, Pillayan called me, and (said) you organize a meeting between Suresh Salley and these people. The exact location name is Karadipuval. After that I give the information to the group to come to the place.  I went to the place, a big coconut farm and one house was there. They came in a white van. Six people got down from the vehicle. Suresh Salley told me the Rajapaksa's need an unsafe situation in Sri Lanka. That's the only way for Gothabaya to become president. So this is the meeting between them with the terrorist group and Suresh Salley,"  said Hanzeer Azad Maulana in the program.

Hanzeer Azad Maulana also detailed an incident on the day of the Terror Attacks.

"Suresh Salley called me. He just said, immediately you can go to the Taj Samudra hotel. A person wait(ing) for you. Come out, you take him into your vehicle immediately. Once you take him, you take his phone. After that ask where he can go and drop him. That is what he instructed to me. But, I told Sir, I was in Batticaloa. After the Easter bombings happened. I realized the faces who participated in the meeting. First, is Zaharan. Suicide bomber and leader. So I knew these people, I met. I was scared. I called Pillayan. He said shut up your mouth, you don't know anything. That is it."  

Another unnamed government official made a startling claim in the Channel 4 program.

"First the FBI gage us an IP address. The person using that IP address had direct connections to Zaharan and they said to look into it. It was a Muslim soldier attached to Military intelligence. He played a huge role. He facilitated it. He knew about the suicide bombers, especially Zaharan and his involvement," he said about Suresh Salley.

Channel 4 says that the allegations in programme were put to Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Pillayan. They did not respond. 

Channel 4 days that Suresh Salley denies any connection with the Easter Bombings. He says he was in Malaysia at the time he is alleged to have met NTJ members, and in India at the time of the attacks. He also said that he was not operative in the defense or security structure of Sri Lanka between January 2018 and the 2019 attacks.