President refutes allegations that he received intel on terror attack

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The President's Media Unit in a press release states that President Maithripala Sirisena was not informed of the April 21st attacks. According to the PMD, the president stated that local and international reports which suggest the President was made aware of the incidents are false and baseless. The release also refutes a statement made by the Head of State Intelligence, before the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to investigate the 21st April attacks, that the National Security Council (NSC) did not convene after February 2019. The release notes that steps were taken to establish the National Security Committee as details discussed in the NSC were being leaked to the media informally. It adds that this committee convene once every two weeks and also notes that there were instances on which the President convened the committee each week. The statement by the PMD notes that a 2 hour long meeting was held on the 8th of April 2019 with the IGP and seniors members of the Police force, and that the details of such a terror attack were not revealed during this meeting as well. The PMD reiterates that the President did not receieve any information on the terror attack from foreign nations through the IGP or the defense secretary.