Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena Axes Defence Secretary, Police Chief

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has asked Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara to resign over mishandling of intelligence reports in the lead-up to Easter Sunday’s bombings. Warnings had been shared with Sri Lankan security services, including one memo addressed to the IGP, ahead of attacks but no steps were taken to prevent them. Officials said Maithripala Sirisena informed the Defence Secretary of his decision during a meeting and later conveyed it to the police chief, according to Xinhua news agency.

Sri Lanka’s Opposition MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa said at a press conference he forwarded a letter to the President urging him to arrest both the men. (IANS)

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