Army Informant Identified Sarah Jasmine Before Attacks

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an investigation into claims made by three individuals convicted by a Trial-at-Bar of the High Court over the Easter Sunday attacks, alleging that others connected to the attacks still remain at large.

Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris today sought permission from the Fort Magistrate's Court for eight investigators to visit the prison and record statements from the three inmates in connection with those claims. A case against former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Salley and two other suspects in relation to the Easter Sunday terror attacks was taken up once again before the Fort Magistrate's Court .

During proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed court that the CID intends to record statements from Milhan, Riskhan and Zainul Abdeen, who have already been convicted and sentenced by the High Court.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris:

"Your Honour, during the judgment delivered in the Easter Sunday attack case heard before the Trial-at-Bar of the Colombo High Court, three convicted individuals stated, 'Although we have gone to prison, those connected to this are still outside.' Your Honour, that was the principal case heard in relation to this incident. Therefore, these statements must be investigated. These three convicted individuals made these remarks openly before court without fear. Accordingly, I request an order permitting eight investigating officers to visit the prison and record statements from these individuals during the period from October 22, 2026, to November 8, 2026."

Investigators have also recorded a statement from former Minister Douglas Devananda in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.

The statement was recorded after information emerged suggesting that Devananda had introduced Asad Maulana, a key witness in the investigation, to both the Karuna faction and the Pillayan faction.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris:

"Investigations have revealed that it was Douglas Devananda who introduced Asad Maulana to Karuna Amman and Pillayan. He directed an individual named Shankar, who later served as Chairman of the Cashew Corporation, to arrange meetings between Asad Maulana, Karuna Amman and Pillayan. However, Douglas Devananda denies this. After we recorded his statement, he held a media briefing and even referred to matters relating to the statement given to investigators. That should not happen. He is subject to the law. We subsequently recorded a statement from an individual named Shankar. His evidence is highly significant. He was formerly the head of Douglas Devananda's political unit. He states that Douglas Devananda instructed him to introduce Asad Maulana to the Karuna group. Asad Maulana also maintained contacts with Pillayan. Later, in 2005, Shankar left politics and sought visas for his entire family to migrate to Switzerland. Some people claim that Asad Maulana is making false statements involving Suresh Sallay and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. However, there would be no reason for him to make false claims, Your Honour. Even by 2005 and 2006, Asad Maulana was already receiving political protection."

Reporting on the progress of the investigation, the Additional Solicitor General further alleged that, even after the Easter Sunday attacks, certain officers acted with the knowledge of Suresh Salley to suppress information related to the attacks.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris:

"Your Honour, a military informant named Rajan provided information to Corporal Suranga, who was attached to the Sri Lanka Army. Following this, Corporal Suranga instructed Rajan to monitor the residence of the uncle of Inshaf, one of the suicide bombers involved in the Easter Sunday attacks, and observe who was visiting the house. Rajan managed to enter the residence strategically. While there, he encountered a woman wearing a burqa and a man. He spoke with them. The woman spoke Tamil, but Rajan informed Corporal Suranga that her dialect was not typical of the area and appeared to be associated with the Batticaloa region. Rajan also observed the woman's appearance. Subsequently, after the Easter Sunday attacks took place, photographs of Sarah Jasmine appeared in the media. Rajan identified the woman he had seen as Sarah Jasmine and reported this to Corporal Suranga. Corporal Suranga then told him not to concern himself with the matter and to forget about it. Your Honour, it is very clear that efforts were made to prevent information received after the attacks from being properly investigated, and that this occurred with the knowledge of Suresh Sallay."

The court also revisited the circumstances surrounding the alleged issuance of travel documents to facilitate Karuna Amman's departure from the country.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris:

"Two intelligence officers, including Suresh Salley, arranged a diplomatic passport for Karuna Amman to travel to the United Kingdom. After Karuna Amman travelled there, Salley also travelled to meet him. However, Salley denies this.Approximately two days after the alleged meeting, Karuna Amman was arrested and imprisoned for possessing a forged passport, before later being deported back to Sri Lanka.The passport had reportedly been obtained under the name Dushmantha Gunawardena, said to be a former Secretary to the Ministry of Environment. At present, it is difficult to establish whether such an individual even existed. Full details relating to this matter must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, Salley is a passport expert. He himself possesses two or three passports."

Appearing on behalf of former State Intelligence Chief Suresh Sallay, President's Counsel Shavindra Fernando argued that if his client was alleged to possess multiple passports, the relevant passport numbers should be produced before court.

Here's a translated extract of the submission made by President's Counsel Shavindra Fernando:

"At the time my client is alleged to have facilitated the issuing of a passport to Karuna Amman, he was serving at the Sri Lankan Embassy in France. Therefore, how could we have arranged a passport in Sri Lanka? These are entirely false allegations. Only one statement has been recorded from my client so far, and that statement was not even in relation to the Easter Sunday investigation. It concerned a passport allegedly linked to Karuna Amman."

The case is scheduled to be called again on November 25.