Sri Lankan bombers had clear links to ISIS: President Sirisena

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has said country’s intelligence services believe the Easter Sunday suicide bombers had very clear links to ISIS.

President said in an interview to a news channel that the terror group had provided training to the perpetrators of last week’s attacks, and that links between ISIS and extremists in Sri Lanka could be traced back to 15 years.

President had earlier said that there could be upto 140 ISIS sympathisers in the country and hunt is on to nab them all.

\Sirisena rejected claims that he should resign in the face of the intelligence failures before the attacks, which killed more than 250 people including 42 foreigners. The President blamed officials and ministers in his government for failing to act on warnings.

He also rejected criticism that a political rift with his Prime Minister had created a governmental void which paved the way for terrorist attacks to take place.

Sirisena said when it comes to national security, there are no party differences, religious differences or racial differences between us as Sri Lankans.

Meanwhile, a joint operations command has been set up in Colombo for coordination among all army, navy, air force and police areas within the country for operational purposes with immediate effect.

The command will begin its functions under the chief of defence staff with immediate effect. President Sirsen has appointed a former army commander as new Defense Secretary while police chief has been sent on compulsory leave following Easter Sunday attacks in the country.