Former Sri Lankan Minister Udaya Gammanpila has accused the current government of orchestrating a “new drama” regarding the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, claiming that the authorities are using the issue to gain political advantage ahead of the upcoming local authority elections. The Easter Sunday bombings, which claimed the lives of over 250 people, remain one of the most devastating attacks in Sri Lanka’s recent history. However, Gammanpila argues that the government is failing to identify the true mastermind behind the attacks, or worse, is deliberately avoiding doing so due to its ties with the real perpetrators.
“The government came to power promising to find the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attack. Frankly, they have failed to find one, or they don’t want to find one, because the true culprits are now within the government,” said Gammanpila in his statement. He further asserted that the government is attempting to fabricate a narrative to mislead the public and bolster its political standing ahead of the elections.
According to Gammanpila, the government is attempting to revive a theory that was initially presented in a Channel 4 documentary in 2023. The programme claimed that the Easter Sunday attacks were masterminded by Sri Lankan intelligence agencies, with the supposed ulterior motive of assisting former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s rise to power. This allegation, according to Gammanpila, is baseless and part of a broader conspiracy involving the Sri Lankan state.
The theory was first introduced by Azad Maulana, also known as Mohamed Milar Mohamed Hansir, who, in the Channel 4 documentary, claimed to have knowledge of the supposed involvement of Sri Lankan intelligence in the attacks. Maulana, who is currently seeking political asylum in Switzerland, has made several questionable claims, including fraudulent actions related to his personal life. Gammanpila highlighted Maulana’s dubious history, pointing to his two marriages, one of which was reportedly carried out under false pretenses. “At his second marriage, he used a false name and produced a fraudulent marriage certificate,” Gammanpila stated. The second wife of Maulana, Fatima Jesli Benazir, became aware of his true identity only after seeing him in the Channel 4 documentary. Upon learning this, she filed a complaint with the Sainamaru Police.
Gammanpila further detailed how the Sri Lankan authorities began an investigation into Maulana’s actions, leading to a case being filed in the Kalmune Magistrate Court. The court subsequently imposed a travel ban on Maulana, preventing him from returning to Sri Lanka. However, Gammanpila contended that, under political pressure, the government is now trying to have the travel ban lifted to bring Maulana back for questioning, in what he believes is an attempt to advance their fabricated narrative of the Easter Sunday attacks.
“Top brass in the police force have reportedly pressured officers not to object to the lifting of the travel ban, despite knowing that this could interfere with ongoing investigations,” Gammanpila claimed. He also suggested that certain police officers had been coerced into facilitating this move. “These officers realised that they were being forced to take illegal actions, but had no choice but to comply with their superiors,” he added. Maulana’s lawyers, according to Gammanpila, were reportedly organised by a senior police officer from Ampara, though the former minister stressed that he did not have concrete evidence to name the individual involved.
The situation took a further twist when, on 21st January, Maulana’s lawyers filed a motion to lift the travel ban, which was granted by the Kalmune Magistrate Court due to a lack of objections from the police. However, once the travel ban was lifted, the police allegedly realised the gravity of their actions and reportedly pressured Fatima Benazir to retract her earlier statement, claiming that her actions were influenced by former Minister Pillayan. Fatima, however, refused to comply with this demand and instead gave a statement to the police, asserting that she had been coerced into making a false claim.
Gammanpila highlighted that Fatima Benazir’s testimony was recorded by the Divisional Crime Detective Bureau (DCDB) in Ampara, both in writing and via audio. He pointed out that the police had stored the recording, but further questioned the context and legitimacy of this action, given the apparent coercion involved.
In his statement, Gammanpila accused the government of exploiting the Easter Sunday tragedy for political gain, particularly as the local elections draw near. He claimed that the government is seeking to make arrests based on fabricated stories, and emphasised the need for the authorities to address several critical questions related to the investigation.
“While the government is scrambling to concoct a new story, they have not been able to uncover the mastermind behind the attacks,” said Gammanpila. “Instead, they are staging a fresh narrative to mislead the public for electoral purposes.” He proceeded to outline eight important questions that he believes the government must address:
- Has the travel ban on Azad Maulana been lifted, and if so, what was the reason for the police supporting this move?
- Who influenced the police to allow Maulana’s travel ban to be lifted?
- Why did the police allegedly pressure Fatima Benazir to falsely claim that she was coerced by former Minister Pillayan?
- Is it true that a recording of Fatima Benazir’s statement is stored at the DCDB Ampara, and what is its context?
- Will the government investigate Azad Maulana’s connections with Zahran Hashim and the radical group involved in the attacks, particularly his role in introducing Dr. Safras Muhammad Sufian to Zahran’s brother, Rilwan?
- Will Maulana be produced before the Kalmune Magistrate Court in connection with case number B Oblique 811 Oblique 2023?
- Is Maulana being questioned over the purchase of luxury property in Dehiwala, potentially linked to money laundering?
- Will the authorities take action against Azad Maulana for a fraudulent cheque transaction worth 2 million rupees involving his second wife?
