(VIDEO) 2019 Attacks PCoI recommendations will be implemented; Min. Weerasekera

Colombo (News 1st); Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral (Retired) (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament that all those directly or indirectly responsible for the 2019 April 21st Attacks will be arrested. 

676 people were arrested in Sri Lanka with regard to the 2019 April Attacks and 200 of them were remanded while 66 are detained for investigations, said the Minister.

408 people are currently out on bail as per the law of the 

country;

 however, they are continuously under investigation, he added.

The on-going investigations have revealed the 2019 April Attacks could have been prevented easily, however necessary measures were not taken at the time to prevent it,

as national security was at zero level, said Minister Sarath 

Weerasekera

.

"After the government was elected, 99 people were arrested in Sri Lanka for their direct and indirect involvement in the attacks while another 35 Sri Lankans who were overseas were arrested for investigations," he said.

Sri Lankan intelligence in early 2020 for the first time revealed of a female wing trained by Zaharan Hashim and 17 of them had given the pledge to carry out suicide attacks, said the Minister adding 05 

of 

the

m

 are already 

dead, 

03 are charged and remanded while 07 others are detained for questioning.

The remaining 02 women will be arrested in the future, he said.

Further, the Terrorist Investigations Division and the Intelligence Services have managed to trace other extremist organizations operating in the country and make key arrests, said the Minister of Public Security.

Necessary measures have been taken for the implementation of the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 April 21st Attacks, he said.