Days after suicide bombers owing allegiance to the IS outfit set themselves off in churches and luxury hotels across, PM admitted there were strains within the govt that led to the intelligence break-down. It was a question of why the system did not work, said Wickremesinghe whose running feud with President over several State matters has been out in the open. “We have to take responsibility for that part of the machinery that didn’t work,” he told Jaya Menon in an interview.
The last two days has seen a significant flush-out operation in . Are there intelligence reports of more such terrorist hideouts or terrorists on the run in the country?
Some more terrorist flush-out operations are on. You will know tomorrow.
Would you say the rift within government and poor coordination/ understanding between the President and PM proved costly?
This is a co-habitation government. There are a lot of strains. If the information that was made available from the defence ministry was sent to the police and some implementing agencies… if all that had been done, even if I was ignorant of it, it wouldn’t have mattered. Had it been implemented, it (the attack) could have been prevented. I may not have known about it, but it could have been prevented. So, it’s not a question of me, it’s a question of why the system did not work.
Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe
So the rift within contributed to the intelligence lapse?
No, it hasn’t. The matter is with the defence ministry. The President has now appointed a committee to look into it. But, had they acted, whether I knew or not would have been immaterial.
You have gone public with the claim that you were not getting intelligence reports. The President too has said so. Isn’t this poor reflection on the day’s government?
Yes, I said I hadn’t got any intelligence reports. Certainly, we got to think of why this is so.
Are you getting intelligence reports now?
I get the briefings.
Do you and the President meet to discuss the situation and security matters?
We meet at the cabinet and we meet at the National Security Council meetings…
If there had been better coordination and more importantly, trust, between you and the President, could the terror attacks been prevented?
It is a question of implementation. Let’s say I had the information and I believed the police was taking action, and yet nothing was happening, it would have still been this… Who are the authorities who didn’t act? As far as I am concerned, I am on top of it. I could have been informed, I could have presumed everyone was acting and still we would have had the same results. It is not my knowledge that matters. What matters is why they didn’t act on it.
There is a lot of anger. Should government take the blame?
We have to take responsibility for that part of the machinery that didn’t work. Anger is understandable.
People are asking if the President and you can be trusted to take care of their safety. What do you say to them?
We have ensured communal harmony. But there has been a lapse and we want to know why. I have been in governments that have looked after safety of the people earlier.
Christians and Muslims are worried. What steps do you propose to restore confidence in the two minority communities?
Christians are worried. I spent some time with them today, three hours with the cardinal and priests. Muslims are worried about backlash. We’ve been talking to them. There have been small incidents but not communal backlash. We can expect outbursts.
What about the attack on Pakistani refugees? Is that now estimated to be a source of extremist inflow into the country?
The Pakistani refugees issue has come up afresh after (the attacks on them) Negombo. They are on a temporary stay until UNHCR clears them. Some have stayed for five or six years. We have arranged with UNHCR to take them to wherever they have asylum. The process is getting delayed. They are refusing to return to their country. No one has taken up this issue seriously, until now.
The President has said the country’s security apparatus will be restructured. What are the big steps?
He has given some proposals. We’ve discussed it. It will take place in due time.
So, you are privy to these measures? Are you satisfied with them? You trust the President’s decisions on security matters?
Let’s see how it works. Well, now we are informed and the security agencies are functioning. At the moment they are producing results.
Not long ago, the President took away the law and order portfolio from you and holds it himself. People say there is no clarity on who is in charge of the nation’s security. Do you feel the same?
We have always felt there should be a full time minister for law and order. We’ve been discussing that with the President.
People are now talking about wanting an efficient president and yesterday Mr Gotabaya has talked of contesting the presidential elections. When will the elections be held?
That’s in November. That has to be sorted out early.
Isn’t the political challenge from the Rajapakshes very serious given their emphasis for an efficient government in view of security threat?
Well, we have been in different governments. We have handled difficult situations. Then there was Sarath Fonseka (former Sri Lankan army commander), who was really responsible for the victory (in the war against the LTTE). As everyone says, there is a serious breakdown, but now the machinery is moving again. Let’s apprehend the offenders and see how deep it has gone.
What is the extent of intelligence cooperation and communication with India before and after the incident?
It is good. Don’t think I can disclose anything on that.
How is US and the helping with investigations?
We are working with all of them. Their citizens have been killed, so they have to come in.
Lanka is a victim of global . Is your government equipped to handle it?
We were on the periphery, sharing intelligence. Now, we are at the centre of it and we have to re-equip ourselves. We had faced suicide bombers and terrorism of a different type.
Are there apprehensions about the LTTE regrouping?
There are no such apprehensions.
The country’s sustenance is tourism. Do you see tourists coming back to the country any time soon?
May is the lean season. We hope it will pick up by August or so.
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