The United National Party (UNP) has issued a special statement saying that following the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21, 2019, Sri Lanka’s investigative institutions lacked sufficient expertise at the time, and therefore, then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requested the United States Government to conduct a full investigation into the attacks and provide a report.
The party says the then Prime Minister also assured full cooperation from Sri Lankan authorities, and later made a similar request during a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on April 22.
Following that call, US President Donald Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter) stating that the United States stood with Sri Lanka and its Prime Minister in the fight against terrorism, and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the American people.
In response to the request, the FBI conducted a full investigation in coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, including the CID, military intelligence, and the State Intelligence Service. Based on all collected evidence and findings, the FBI submitted a report to the Sri Lankan government, which was accepted by all relevant authorities in Sri Lanka, the UNP said.
The party further notes that on November 12, 2020, FBI Special Agent Merrilee R. Godwin filed a 71-page affidavit before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
After a two-year investigation, US authorities filed a criminal case on December 11, 2020, in the United States District Court in Los Angeles.
The defendants named in the case were Mohamed Naufar, Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Riskaan, and Ahmed Milhan Hayath Mohamed. At the time of filing, they, along with other suspects linked to the attacks, were already in custody in Sri Lanka.
The statement adds that all information and evidence related to the US investigation are currently in the possession of the FBI or the US Department of Justice.
The UNP has questioned whether the current government has officially requested these materials from the US government, given that a fresh investigation into the Easter attacks has been launched.
It further asks what response, if any, was received, and if no request has been made, the government should explain why.
The party emphasises that these critical findings and evidence should be urgently made available to Sri Lanka’s judicial authorities, and issued a statement from the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha.
The party says the then Prime Minister also assured full cooperation from Sri Lankan authorities, and later made a similar request during a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on April 22.
Following that call, US President Donald Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter) stating that the United States stood with Sri Lanka and its Prime Minister in the fight against terrorism, and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the American people.
In response to the request, the FBI conducted a full investigation in coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, including the CID, military intelligence, and the State Intelligence Service. Based on all collected evidence and findings, the FBI submitted a report to the Sri Lankan government, which was accepted by all relevant authorities in Sri Lanka, the UNP said.
The party further notes that on November 12, 2020, FBI Special Agent Merrilee R. Godwin filed a 71-page affidavit before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
After a two-year investigation, US authorities filed a criminal case on December 11, 2020, in the United States District Court in Los Angeles.
The defendants named in the case were Mohamed Naufar, Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Riskaan, and Ahmed Milhan Hayath Mohamed. At the time of filing, they, along with other suspects linked to the attacks, were already in custody in Sri Lanka.
The statement adds that all information and evidence related to the US investigation are currently in the possession of the FBI or the US Department of Justice.
The UNP has questioned whether the current government has officially requested these materials from the US government, given that a fresh investigation into the Easter attacks has been launched.
It further asks what response, if any, was received, and if no request has been made, the government should explain why.
The party emphasises that these critical findings and evidence should be urgently made available to Sri Lanka’s judicial authorities, and issued a statement from the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha.
