SL President Sirisena assures action against terrorism

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has assured his nation that he would take steps to curtail terrorism and bring back normalcy swiftly even as tensions remain with the possibility of more attacks.

At least 18 people were arrested overnight for suspicion in involvement in Sunday attacks which has killed 321 people so far.

President Sirisena said he will make immediate changes in the high security positions as there was negligence in carrying out responsibilities. He said although there was an intelligence report about these attacks, he was not informed about them.

Addressing the nation Tuesday night, President Sirisena disclosed that since 2017, there were intelligence information about emergence of terrorist groups and the fact that some of them receiving training in foreign countries.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe said some people are on the run and security forces are trying to prevent further attacks. He said that it will take a bit of time for normalcy to return to the country.

Wickremsinghe accepted that India has shared specific intelligence about the attacks and there is strong cooperation between the two countries on terrorism.

The Prime minister said that there are foreign links behind the attacks and investigations are on to probe ISIS links. His comments came as ISIS took responsibility for the attacks saying it is in response to shootings at Christchurch mosque in New Zealand.

Earlier, a government minister stated that Sunday’s attacks were carried out in response to Christchurch incident. The minister said Sri Lanka’s National Thowheed Jamaat group, which was believed to have carried out the attacks, had close links with a group called JMI.