Former Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi yesterday told the Presidential Commission probing the Easter Sunday attacks that he came to know in 2016 that Sri Lanka has been named as a part of Islamic State.
Hettiarachchi, however, asserted that he did not apprise the Security Council about this information. He said that he came to a conclusion that Sri Lanka has been named as a part of IS regime after analysing documents that he received.
He said that he cannot remember whether anybody has apprised this to the Security Council
The Former Defence Secretary was giving evidence before the Presidential Commission investigating into the Easter Sunday yesterday.
Hettiarachchi added that he was not aware that ISIS is a banned organisation in Sri Lanka
He added that legal experts outlined that country did not have provisions to deal with these terrorists leaving country for training.
The Former Defence Secretary said that he received information that 37 -38 youths from Sri Lanka have received training from terrorists through Turkey and the Middle East countries.
He said that Sri Lanka did not have provisions to deal with them, but strategic decisions were made to prevent extremist elements taking roots in the country.
Hettiarachchi added that former Law and Order Minister Sagala Rathnayake presented a new Act to Parliament and former Intelligence Chief Nilantha Jayawardena designed a military plan after information received that educated youth have joined this outfit.
He added that meetings were held with Moulavis to prevent this situation.