The appalling carnage in Sri Lanka has shocked the world. This beautiful island has spent the last 10 years struggling to recover from the decades of unrelenting violence brought about by the Tamil Tiger rebellion. It might have been hoped the country could be enjoying a revival of its important tourist trade. The Sunday blasts that killed some 300 innocents and maimed at least 500 more have shattered those expectations.
After an initial silence, during which there were also no gloating terrorist claims of responsibility, the authorities blamed an obscure local Jihadist group, the National Thowheed Jamath. At least a score of suspects have already been arrested. If this gang did indeed perpetrate these foul crimes, then there is evidence to suggest that they were not acting alone. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has admitted security services had been “aware of information” 10 days ago that an attack was planned. The failure to act on what appears to have been a warning from outside intelligence organizations will doubtless damage the government and could undermine its support if elections are held this year, as President Maithripala Sirisena hinted last December.
Though it is still early in the investigation, the finger of blame is clearly pointing at Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) if only because of the coordination of the six suicide attacks and the apparent sophistication of the explosive devices. In two raids of suspected terrorists lairs there were further blasts, in one of which three policemen perished. The investigation now under way is likely to include overseas intelligence bodies. It will be of considerable forensic benefit that security forces discovered and defused an IED near Colombo airport. It is also reported that police found a large cache of detonators in a left-luggage locker at the capital’s main bus station
