Minister Ranawaka however emphasized the responsibility on the part of the government to prevent external interference, detrimental to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, in the guise of what he called intelligence cooperation.

JHU heavyweight Ranawaka entered parliament at the Aug 2015 general election on the UNP ticket, though previously he was a vehement critic of its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Constituent of the UNP-led administration, the JHU has recommended a seven-point plan to counter the daunting security challenge in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings.

The civil grouping bared its plan at a media conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation on Thursday (May 02).

Responding to a query by The Island regarding their stand on claims the US was taking advantage of the security crisis here for deployment of forces.

Early this week, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, in a letter to President President Maithripala Sirisena warned of clandestine plans to deploy foreign troops here.

Minister Ranawaka rejected accusations pertaining to proposed foreign troops deployment. "There is absolutely no basis for such claims. Our armed forces and police are capable of meeting the threat," Minister Ranawaka said.

Ranawaka stressed that the JHU was strongly opposed to the deployment of foreign troops here under any circumstances. Responding to another query, the Minister said that those propagating conspiracy theories conveniently turned a blind eye to ground realities.

Acknowledging that the US had created Mujahideen Al Qaeda against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in Dec 1979 and much later unintentianally paved the way for ISIS by the invasion of Iraq in 2003 Minister Ranawaka said that Sri Lanka needed international support to fight the new threat.

The Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) has briefed the National Security Council regarding the ISIS role in the Easter Sunday bombings.

Minister Ranawaka emphasized there couldn’t be any dispute over US expertise and technology to neutralize the threat. The JHU leader pointed out that Sri Lanka had been a major beneficiary of US intelligence during the conflict. Had those so worried about US interference forgot how they provided specific intelligence during the Eelam War IV to hunt down four floating arsenals belonging to the LTTE on the high seas.

Minister Ranawaka called for no holds barred cooperation between local intelligence services and similar organizations of those countries fighting ISIS. Referring to Russia’s support for Syria in the latter’s battle against ISIS, Minister Ranawaka also underscored the importance of assistance from Russia.

The JHU Chief said that though two local groups namely National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ), and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) had been proscribed under Emergency Regulations, Easter Sunday suicide attacks were part of the global operations undertaken by the ISIS. Therefore, Sri Lanka should closely work with countries battling the ISIS, Ranawaka said.

The Minister warned of a possible second round of bombings unless tangible measures in coordination with foreign intelligence services were taken.

Controversy surrounds the government’s failure to thwart coordinated attacks in spite of receiving specific intelligence from India on April 04, 2019.

Highly placed security sources told The Island on Thursday (May 02) that even before Indian warning authorities here knew of the planned imminent operation thanks to local sources.

Minister Ranawaka said that he spoke on behalf the National Path set up especially to influence the decision making process meant to restore confidence among the people. The Minister decried what he called despicable efforts to divert attention. Those in charge of Defence and Law and Order ministries, the state leadership and the cabinet of ministers were collectively responsible for the worst ever security lapse, Ranawaka said.

He too maintained that the Easter Sunday attacks were carried out by Islamic fundamentalists with the involvement of ISIS.

Ranawaka paid a glowing tribute to the Catholic community for not retaliating to unprovoked attacks. The minister also praised swift and decisive reaction of the armed forces in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

The National Path called for (1) tangible action against those responsible for atrocities on the basis of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations (2) Proscribe all persons and groups involved with local and foreign terrorist groups as well as members of religious groups propagating violence (3) Include Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in a new National Security Council for the implementation of an overall security strategy (4) Enhanced cooperation with foreign intelligence services (5) tough monetary laws to curb illegal transactions (6) call for Muslim religious leaders to cooperate with the intelligence services and political parties and other organizations to facilitate ongoing operations by not interfering.