Foreign intelligence provided detailed report

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Foreign intelligence provided detailed report

President Maithripala Sirisena says an intelligence unit of a foreign country provided a detailed report on the 4th of April to local intelligence officers of a possible terror attack on Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering of the Heads of Media at the President’s House this morning, the Head of State said the report detailed where the attacks would take place and how the attacks would be carried out.

However the President said while the information circulated among heads of the intelligence units, it wasn't shared with him.

President Sirisena said the then Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando took the report lightly and did not take stringent steps to address the matter.

The President said Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara also shared the information with five Deputy Inspector General of Police.

The President charged that one DIG, Priyalal Dasanayake shared the information with the VIP Security Unit claiming the other officers did not take any steps in this regard.

However President Sirisena said neither he nor the government can shy away from the responsibility of the attacks on Easter Sunday that resulted in the deaths of 253 persons and injured more than 450.

The President said a new Defence Secretary will be appointed within the course of the day.The President believes the IGP will step down today.

President Sirisena meanwhile stated that information has been revealed that around 130-140 ISIS affiliates are in Sri Lanka and vowed to swipe out terrorism from the country.

The President also recalled that the 9/11 attacks in a country as powerful as the US could not have been prevented either.

The President furthermore noted the initial decision was to lift the restrictions on social media sites today, adding given the information that was circulated yesterday the decision is now being reconsidered.

The President also called on all citizens to support all efforts by the Military adding given the present situation in the country all homes will be searched.