Law and Order Minister alerted about Zahran in 2016

06 Aug, 2019

The Law and Order Minister in 2016 was alerted about National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim.

The Minister at the time, Sagala Ratnayake, told the Parliament Select Committee on the Easter Sunday attacks today that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) alerted him about Zahran in November 2016.

However, Ratnayake said the information related to religious extremism propaganda carried out by Zahran Hashim using Facebook.

Zahran Hashim led the Easter Sunday attacks and was one of the suicide bombers.

Ratnayake said that he had not received any information related to Zahran Hashim preparing to carry out any suicide attacks or preparing explosives.

Former Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara, who appeared before the Parliament Select Committee on the Easter Sunday attacks today, also confirmed that Zahran Hashim was being investigated for religious extremism.

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