KAMALIKA PIERIS
Revised 17.5.19
Jihadist radicals in the East and elsewhere were closely monitored for
years by Sri Lankan intelligence, said analysts. Yahapalana tried to crush
the intelligence sector of the military, by imprisoning its best men. But, in
spite of this, the military had obtained prior intelligence relating to these
attacks and conveyed the information to higher authorities, said Mahinda
Rajapaksa, speaking after the bomb blast.
The Economist too, noted
that the
intelligence apparatus was on the trail of jihadist groups including NTJ until
around 2016. National Security Council, under Rajapaksa, had met once a week but meetings became less and less under Yahapalana, until
it became ‘pointless’, said Economist.
Directorate of Military
Intelligence confirms this. Until 2015,
a meeting of the Intelligence Coordinating Committee took place every Tuesday
at the Ministry of Defence. There was the National Security Council (NSC)
discussion on Wednesday, too. After 2016, the NSC meeting dropped to once a
fortnight, sometimes once in three weeks. And the focus continued to be on the
LTTE, not other dangers. Directorate of Military Intelligence had suggested that they should be allowed to
infiltrate certain organizations and the state should introduce laws to reel
them. Once Yahapalana government came
in none of them were interested, said the military. This is ‘national mindset’
versus ‘liberal mindset” said critics.
But the military seems to have quietly continued its surveillance
functions, because when the bomb blasts occurred they were ready with the
necessary information. In 2015, the
Directorate of Military Intelligence had set up a separate ‘ISIS Cell’ to
monitor activities of those working for ISIS in Sri Lanka .This was done after
they noted an increase in the Facebook posts.
This yielded results and Military Intelligence was able to identify
the network of the pro ISIS terror groups, their leaders and areas of
operations. They were able to immediately name the two organizations
responsible, National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim
(JMI).
The Directorate of
Military Intelligence ‘possessed ‘a
detailed list of local operatives and within hours of the bombing, the
military and police swooped down on at least 24 suspects, suggesting that they
knew exactly where the group had been operating. They were quickly able to
locate their safe houses.
A veritable arsenal of weapons is being recovered by police commandos
and intelligence who obviously know exactly where to go and what ‘safe houses’
to pinpoint, said Kishali Pinto Jayawardene.
What surprised and angered many people was the lightning speed with
which police and security forces began arresting suspects, and arresting them
in stunningly large numbers. Obviously, police had information on these
suspects and when a warning was given about impending attacks targeting
churches and hotels, it should have been obvious to anyone to connect the two
dots said Rajan Philips.
Within 24 hours of the blast, detonators and explosives emerged from
houses, ditches, bus stands. A large stock of explosives and detonators were
found in a house near Nochchiyagama filling station. 87 low explosive detonators abandoned at
the private bus stand in Bastian Mawatha, Colombo.
There was deep anger as well as grief, over the bomb blasts and the
grinning indifferent Yahapalana government had no alternative but to declare a
state of emergency and ask the security forces to go into action. Sri Lanka
military is a well trained and very
experienced force. It has successfully
crushed two JVP insurgencies in 1971 and
1989 and defeated the LTTE in 2009. They knew exactly how to flush out the
operatives in this Jihad operation,
The response of the armed forces to the bomb blast was most
impressive. Once a state of emergency
was declared, the military ‘poured troops onto the streets’ to back up the
police as they searched for suspects. Cordon and search operations were set up
all over the country. Roadblocks, vehicle checks, raids on suspicious spots,
screening of certain locations, were done. A combined raid was carried out by
Police, Navy and the Air Force at Mandulkuda, Kalpitiya.A combined Police, STF and Army search operation in Kalmunai. By 2.5.2019 they had arrested 120 persons.
The public gave many tip offs to the military. Police Commandos had
detected 12 kilos of high explosives and electronic devices from a forest area
in Shanthipuram, Mannar, following information provided by a resident of the
area.
Panadura South Police following information
received searched a ‘safe house’, in Panadura, belonging to the Sri Lanka
Hashimi Foundation of Muslim Refugees run by Pakistani and Afghan Nationals. Prayers were conducted
there in the night. Residents in the area also handed over a petition against
the suspicious conduct of prayers in the building, to the Panadura Urban
Council.
The suicide bomber group had money.
CID found over Rs. 140 million in cash, and other assets worth over Rs.
7 billion belonging to the Easter Sunday bombers. There were 41 bank accounts.
Helpers in the bomb blasts were each paid Rs 2 million.
The suicide bombers had rented seven houses in several areas
including Mahawila, Kochchikade, Badalgama and Lucky Plaza in Kollupitiya. They
had also rented seven vehicles for their use.
17 safe houses were found. They were at
Katuwapitiya-Negombo, Sarikkamulla-Panadura, Wanathawilluwa,
Enderamulla-Wattala, Saindamarudu nine, Malwana, Kalagedihena-Thihariya,
Daluwakotuwa-Kochchikade, Walachchna-Ridiyatenna, Subarathipura-Kuliyapitiya,
Hettipola, Katupotha, Nindavur, Samanthurai and at St. Anthony’s Road-Colombo
3, Mayura Place-Colombo 06.
The police also found seven training centers at Wanathawilluwa,
Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya, Aruppola, Malwana, Kattankudy and Walachchenai. The
Kattankudy centre was disguised as a farm. It was
15 acres in extent and had a firing range. The training centre maintained by
the National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ) at Black Pool, Nuwara Eliya had trained 38 persons. Zaharan Hashim too
had trained there. The last rehearsal of the Easter Sunday bombings was held at
Black Pool, on April 17. It was supervised by Zaharan.
The Blackpool raid yielded a bonus. Police found details pertaining to
the local members of the ISIS terrorist network in a laptop found at Blackpool .The
intelligence services confirmed that the information saved in the laptop were
original.
The security forces looked at those with links to
ISIS. CID questioned the parents of a powerful local ISIS member, who is in
Syria. They said that they visited their son in Syria and stayed there for
about one and a half years. He is living there with his family and spending a
luxury life, they said.
Welikada Police arrested a Councilor of the Kotte Sri Jayewardenepura
Municipal Council and his brother for distributing materials in support of the
ISIS terrorist organization. Swords and manna knives were also seized during
the arrest. ( Daily News 8.5.19 p 4) the
Assistant Director of the Langama Pasala Hodama
Pasala project of the Ministry of Education was arrested for
allegedly encouraging Islamic extremism and the Islamic State.
A Moulavi has been arrested in the Nawala area
with CD’s containing extremist preaching and pictures of the Kochchikade
church. He had been chased away by Muslims two months back after he conducted
extremist preaching at a mosque in the Nawala area. After the incident he is
said to have rented a house in the Nawala area and had extremist preachings
recorded in CDs to be distributed among Muslims.
The security forces arrested a youth in
Ethalawatunuwewa, Kahatagasdigiliya on a tip-off. He had arrived in the area a
few days ago. The police found books containing distorted Buddhist and Catholic
literature in his car.
797 Compact Disks (CDs) containing recorded religious sermons and
scenes inciting violence were found in the houses of the President and
Treasurer of a mosque in Moragoda, Galle. One compact disc had the title apita
ayath ratak’.
On the 7th May, the chief Operating officer at Pelawatte
Sugar Company, Shiras Abdeen had held a two hour private discussion with 13
Muslim employees. Others had been chased away. The employees got worked up, the
police were called in, and Shiraz was
put into a van and taken away amidst the hoots of the huge number
assembled there. (Derana news 7.5.19 )
An ‘in-service advisor’ at the Bibile Zonal
Education Office had been arrested for allegedly having links to the National
Thawheed Jamath, and released on bail. When he reported to work all officers walked out. The Education
Ministry of the Uva Provincial Council suspended him till the investigations
are completed. The officers resumed
work.
This movement has established itself island wide. The widespread
nature of the movement emerged with the searches. Cells, training centers,
hideaways , weapons and other items of significance were found in Akurana, Alutgama, Anuradhapura Badulla, Balapitiya, Bandaragama, Bandarawela
,Beruwela, Bibile, Bulathkohupitiya, Colombo (
Battaramulla ,Dehiwela, Dematagoda, Slave island, Wellawatte)
Daulagala, Dickwella, Dummalasuriya,
Enderamulla, Ettampitiya, Erakkandi,
Eravur, Galkiriyagama, Galle,
Gampola, Hambantota , Hakmana,
Horowpotana, Jaela, Kadawata, Kaduwela, Kahatagasdiliya, Kalutara, Kalmunai, Kalpitiya. Kantalai, Katugastota, Kebethigollewa, Kegalle, Kekirawa, Kurunegala, Kinniya,
Kiriella, Koswatta, Kotiyakumbura, Kuliyapitiya, Mabola, Madampe, Mandalkuda, Mannar,
Marawila, Maskeliya, Matale, Matara,
,Mawanella, Medirigiriya. Moneragala, Moragollagama, Moratuwa, Mundalama, Nacchaduwa, Nawalapitiya, Negombo, Nikaveratiya,
Nintavur, Nittambuwa, Panama,
Panduwasnuwara pasyala Peradeniya,
Poddala, Pothuvil, Pulmoddai, Puttalam, Raddolugama, Ragama,
Ratgama, Ratmalana, Samanthurai, Serunuwara, Tangalle. Telwatte, Tihariya, Trincomalee, Udunuwara, Ukuwela,
Vavuniya, Veyangoda, Weligama, Welikanda, Welimada, Welipenna, Welisara, Wellawaya
and Yatiyantota.
Security searches revealed large stocks of detonators, explosives,
gelignite , switches , water
gel, petrol bombs, safety fuses (each
about 12.5ft in length) grenades and weapons such as axes, daggers, guns, swords, knives, pistols and ammunition. suicide vests, walkie –talkies, hi-tech equipment , army uniforms, camouflage
uniforms. Weapons were found in
Hamilton canal Negombo and the Kelaniya river. Weapons were also found hidden
inside almirahs, in wells and on the top
of roofs.
CDs and DVDs containing
extremist propaganda emerged in
the searches. The military also found video recordings of the Easter Sunday
bombings, photographs of Zaharan Hashim and photos and videos of the
Wanathavilluwa training camp. Bogus degree certificates, bogus IDs, bogus passports, savings books of Bank of Ceylon were also
found. 15 identity cards belonging to Muslims wrapped in a plastic bag and
placed on a plate, were found in an abandoned house in Salambakulam. The bag
also held NICs, driving licences and office identity cards of Muslims.
The military found many detonators and explosives island wide in their
searches. It is believed that large stocks
of explosives were smuggled to Sri Lanka through the Mannar coast. several
influential persons In the Mannar area have helped in this exercise, talking to the Police when arrests or
inquiries are made. At Pulmoddai they found 89
detonators, water gel etc hidden in a house.
Here is an account of one
large haul. Acting on a tip-off, the
Kuda Oya police, raided a farm, where a
large consignment of arms and ammunition and including sniper guns had been
buried, and arrested the owner of the owner of the property, Jezley Abdul
Cassim, a businessman, living in the US, holding dual citizenship. He was
arrested at his Dehiwala residence, where the police recovered another stock of
arms and ammunition.
Among the items taken into custody in Kuda Oya were four sniper guns,
a galkatas (locally manufactured firearm) two repeater gun, three 12 bore guns,
two M 77 weapons, three telescopes used for guns, a communication set, a pen
drive, SIM cards, a book containing details about sophisticated firearms. The
police also recovered 342 rounds of T-56 ammunition, 163 cartridges used for 12
bore guns, 430 cartridges (long) used for two bore guns, 21 cartridges of No.
16 used for 12 bore guns, 110 M 16 cartridges, 75 cartridges used for 9 mm
pistols, 169 cartridges used for 7 mm pistols, five smoke bombs, a handcuff, 14
kris knives and razor blades, two machetes, four boxes containing cartridges
used for air rifles and 2,773 REM cartridges.
Two children who went to the
farm in search of bamboo spotted some suspicious boxes lying there and alerted
their parents. The elders who rushed to the farm promptly informed the police
after seeing the arms and ammunition in the boxes. ( (Island 14.5.19)
We know what they are getting ready for, said
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Security forces have found swords and daggers in
mosques. They are preparing for a Jihad attack. Jihad is a holy war
waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty. Their enemy is the
Christians, Buddhists and Hindus.
All over the country, swords were found, in huge
quantities, brand new, stacked together and waiting. The number of knives and
swords seized stood at 13,000 in May,
2019, reported the media. 300 unused, Chinese made swords were found at
Slave island, Colombo. 56 swords unused
and still in their sheaths were found in a well in
Maligawatte, Colombo. Swords were found hidden in the sugar cane plantation in
Pelawatte. Five swords had been buried
on a coconut estate at Alakandupitiya, Darga Nagar. 50 swords had been
distributed in Beruwala. Swords were
found in several houses in Ratgama. 300 large knives used for cutting
sugarcane had gone missing from the Hingurana Sugar factory stores.
Dummalasuriya Arabic College had a logo of two crossed swords. The coconut
trees in the compound had been used for knife practice. The school boys were being trained to kill.
Swords were found in many mosques, such as Maskeliya Jumma mosque, The
swords were of various lengths, clearly
to suit different heights of persons. A stock of 46 swords was found hidden
under the bed of the Moulavi of Kadil Jumma Mosque near the Defence College, in
Slave Island, 46 swords, and a small gun which was loaded, were found in a
well in close proximity to a mosque near the Khettarama grounds in
Maligawatte.. 20 camouflage military uniforms were recovered from a mosque,
near Temple Trees. A suicide west was also found in Kadil Jumma Mosque near the
Defence College, in Slave Island.
Saharan’s wife and Katuwapitiya
church bomber Hasthun’s wife had bought nine sets of white clothing, nine
blouses, skirts and under garments. They
will be needed in the future, they had said. Fabrics similar to saffron robes
worn by Buddhist monks were also found. Clearly they were planning to bomb
Buddhist temples. That would have been part of the jihad.
But this movement was not
confining itself to sporadic jihads. This movement was clearly planning something much bigger than jihad. This movement was preparing for a full blown war. The Muslims were getting
ready to take over the whole country. This is shown in the military
preparations.
A communication signal jammer so
powerful that they could disrupt walkie talkie communications was found in
Negombo . At Vavuniya, they found a digital tape which can be used to launch a
laser attack. At Epitamulla, Mirihana
they found a rocket propelled grenade.
at Mannar they found an unregistered drone. In Navanthurei in Jaffna an underground
bunker had been constructed with funds from a Muslim organization .The owner had been told to
construct prison cells in the bunker. Two men who were taking video footage of
a security post in Hijragama along the Horowpathana road were arrested.
The movement also possessed large collections of military
uniforms. Army uniform, camouflage uniforms, the uniforms of Air force, STF and
police were found in the searches. 456
army uniforms were found in one cache. Over 1,000 uniforms worn by security
forces personnel (STF), were found in
Thalapitiya, Galle. ( continued)