Zahran Hashim could have been arrested - Nalaka

The Parliament Select Committee appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks is due to convene once again tomorrow at 11am.

When contacted by NewsRadio Parliamentarian Professor Ashu Marasinghe said Former Secretary of Defence Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, who is currently on compulsory leave, have been summoned before the Committee tomorrow.

The Former Director of the Terrorist Investigations Division Deputy Inspector General of Police Nalaka de Silva appeared before the Select Committee yesterday.

Giving evidence before the Committee DIG de Silva said if the TID continued investigations under his operations, the group led by National Thowheed Jamath organisation Zahran Hashim could’ve been arrested.

He said the impact of the Easter Sunday attacks could have been curtailed if investigations had continued.

He said the TID was not aware of a Muslim extremist group when he took over in 2015 claiming his arrest resulted in a setback in ongoing investigations.

DIG de Silva said his team was directed towards this extremist group by him, adding that his team was previously focused on the LTTE.

He noted that he understood Zahran Hashim was leading young Muslims towards extremism.

DIG Nalaka de Silva claimed that when Zahran Hashim’s videos are viewed it is very apparent that he is leaning towards the IS adding that Zahran even shared content of the IS on his personal social media.

DIG Nalaka de Silva said he informed the Inspector General of Police of the developments in a weekly report claiming that the IGP advised him to continue investigations.

When inquired whether he believed Zahran Hashim had any political affiliation the DIG noted that investigations did not indicate any such connection even though they were aware of certain ties with politicians.

The DIG also claimed that his weekly report to the IGP commenced from 2017 adding that he was not aware whether the IGP took the matter further up the ranks.