The former president and current opposition leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday chaired a meeting with previous defence chiefs on Sri Lanka's security situation following the Easter Sunday blasts.
“I met with the former defense chiefs to discuss the current situation that has arisen with the national security. Requested them to provide me with a report with measures that can be taken both short term and long term with regards to the current situation the country faces,” Rajapaksa tweeted.
The meeting included the former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as well as former commanders, Admiral (rtd) Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Marshal (Rtd) Roshan Goonethilake, Air Marshal (Rtd) Mohan Wijewickreme, General (rtd) G.A. Chandrasiri, General (rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya, Admiral(rtd) Jayanath Colombage, General (rtd) Daya Ratnayake.
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Since reports revealed the suicide bombings last week which killed over 250 people, were warned against in the preceeding weeks and could potentially have been prevented, Sri Lanka's polity has been quick to point the finger of blame at each other.
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe both claimed they had not made aware of the intelligence warnings but that the other had.
Meanwhile Rajapaksa blamed both ruling parties for failing to prevent the attacks.
“These banned organisations could have been banned earlier. What has happened today is politicians put all their focus into elections. They shouldn’t be disregarding national security,” Rajapaksa said as he left a memorial service held at the Kingsbury hotel.
