ColombO: Sri Lanka has admitted a “major intelligence lapse” before the Easter Sunday bomb attacks which killed 359 people and wounded more than 500.
An Indian intelligence warning from the beginning of the month about planned attacks was not properly shared by the authorities, parliament heard.
President Maithripala Sirisena has moved to sack the defence secretary and inspector general of police.
Eight of the nine attackers have been identified as Sri Lankan citizens.
The government is investigating whether the Islamic State (IS) group was involved in the attacks which targeted churches and high-end hotels.
“We have to take responsibility because unfortunately if the sharing of the intelligence information had been given to the right people, I think that at least this could have been avoided or even minimised,” said Deputy Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, according to a BBC News report on Thursday.
“Some top intelligence officials hid the intelligence information purposefully,” he told MPs.
“Information was there but the top brass security officials did not take appropriate actions.” He said the Indian tip-off had been received on April 4 but, both the president and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly did not receive it.
Police seize weapons
Police in Sri Lanka on Thursday arrested three suspects and seized 21 hand grenades, six swords and a van.
The raid was carried out by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) and the Special Task Force (STF) personnel in Modara area, the Daily Mirror reported. (Agencies)
