Colombo: The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickermesinghe, said that they failed to take at face value India’s warnings about a terror attack in the island nation. If they had taken the warnings seriously, effective preventive measures could have been in place.
On 4 April, India had passed on intelligence reports to Sri Lanka that warned of an attack in that country before 22 April. The Indian intelligence agencies found that a group called National Thoweed Jamath was planning attacks in the island nation. Even rehearsals were conducted by the terror organization before the attacks.
Ranil Wickermesinghe said that investigators are probing if there was any local support to the terrorists that planned and executed the attack yesterday.
Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka has confirmed that Indians belonging to Karnataka were among the dead. They are identified as K. G. Hanumantharayapa and M. Rangapa. The total number of Indians killed is now six.
India has stepped up maritime security following the terror attacks in Sri Lanka. Indian Coast Guard is on high alert to prevent any terrorists entering India through sea route.
Intelligence agencies believe that Thoweed Jammath is not a terror organization based in a locality but has a global presence. The organization is believed to have connections with Pakistan. Yesterday, the exiled leader of Pakistani political party, MQM, pointed fingers at the ISI for the bomb blasts in Sri Lanka.
Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka at eight locations have killed 290 people and injured another 500 in one of the worst terror attacks in recent history of the country. The attacks occurred at Churches and high end hotels in the country.
The multiple attack was well planned and designed to cause maximum death toll. Bombs went off as people were gathering in churches for the Easter day mass.
Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Sirisena, has declared national emergency from Monday onwards.
