Kariapper Exposes Alleged Military Inaction Before Easter Bombings

COLOMBO (News 1st); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian and President’s Counsel Nizam Kariapper has made explosive revelations in Parliament, alleging a continued cover-up in the investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Speaking on the floor, Kariapper cited the B Report filed under case number B 35 882/24 at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, submitted on November 24, as the first official document under the current government to reference previously undisclosed aspects of the attacks. 

The report draws on testimony from whistleblower Asad Maulana, aired on Channel 4, and further supported by information provided by Father Cyril Gamini, based on a WhatsApp message allegedly linked to evidence presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

According to Kariapper, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) identified two suspects—Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (alias Pillayan) and Suresh Salley—and the Department of Immigration and Emigration issued travel bans against them. However, no arrests or statements have been recorded from either individual to date.

The report also challenges the narrative surrounding a woman named Sara, previously believed to be deceased, and highlights the murder of two police officers in Vavunathivu, whose stolen weapons were later used by Zaharan Hashim’s extremist group.

"According to the investigation, the officer who was in command of the Sri Lanka Army’s 3rd Military Intelligence Unit at the time had taken action. I won’t name the colonel. The officer who served as the head of the intelligence unit in Batticaloa, a Major, or rather, Captain. If retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, recipient of the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, were here today, he might know more about this."

Kariapper further alleged that military intelligence officers failed to act on critical information provided by an informant in 2015, which could have potentially prevented the attacks. Despite the CID confirming the credibility of the informant’s statement, no military intelligence officers have been arrested or brought before court.

He criticized the arrest of Sub-Inspector Wijenayake, who was merely translating a Tamil statement, calling it a miscarriage of justice akin to the infamous Kekille verdict. Kariapper also pointed out that the commanding officer of the Eastern Province SF Headquarters at the time is currently serving in Parliament.

The MP concluded by questioning the lack of accountability and transparency, noting that 48 statements have been recorded from civilians, military personnel, police officers, and prison officials, yet none are included in the report. He demanded answers on who is obstructing justice and shielding key figures from scrutiny.

"So far, according to the report, statements have been recorded from 12 civilian witnesses, 7 military personnel, 26 police officers, and 3 prison officers—a total of 48 individuals. But the Justice Minister is not here today; otherwise, I would have asked: not a single one of these 48 statements is included in this report. Who is stopping this? Deputy Speaker, who is preventing the military intelligence officers in the Eastern Province from being questioned? Who is shielding the commanding officers? Who is obstructing justice in court?"