In the history of Sri Lanka, there have been times when traitors became kings and culprits clad stars. Therefore, a politician or a security officer does not become a patriot just holds authority. And there are plenty of wolves among us who are clad in sheep’s clothing.
Former STF Commander M. R. Latif should be punished for the Easter attack security failures and blatantly negligent. But he is playing with the law by orchestrating deception through the game of gunny bag. Here are the evidence
a. Latif was appointed as STF Commander on 17 August 2016. Before Latif, the STF commander was DIG Ranjith Perera. From the beginning, there was a counter-terrorism unit at Kalavanchikudi STF camp. Before Latif, this unit had sent a special report to Colombo on Mohomad Zaharan’s activities. Accordingly, the STF officers under the leadership of DIG Ranjit Perera constantly monitored Zaharan. Meanwhile, DIG Ranjit Perera retired.
b. His vacancy was replaced by DIG Latif. After the appointment of Latif, the Zaharan’s movements were not monitored and he operated freely. Further, the UNIT that monitored Zaharan’s movements was abolished with immediate effect.
c. In the eastern province STF Camps are located in Vavnathiv, Kalavanchikudi, Malwatta, Mahaoya, Lahugala, Ampara and Arugambe . After Latif’s arrival, he discouraged the investigation of Zaharan. Latif covered up the killing of the two policemen in Vawnativ six months before the Easter attack, and the motorcycle explosion in Katankudila a few days before the attack. Further, it was revealed in the president commission Latif remained silent about it until Pujith Jayasundara and Nilantha Jayawardena questioned Latif.
d. Pujith Jayasundara has informed Latif about the information received from a foreign intelligence agency about a possible attack elsewhere in the country. But Latif did not take any action about it. Serious evidence of Latif’s negligence has come to light during the investigation into the Easter attack.
e. Latif has given serious false statements to the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Presidential Commission which investigated the Easter attack.
f. By now, 170 lawsuits have been filed by victims of the easter attack against the former President, Prime Minister, Defense Secretary, IGP, and Nilantha Jayawardene claiming compensation. But Latif has unusually survived all those cases.
g. In addition to the hotels in Colombo, the Mount Lavinia Hotel was also scheduled to be blasted on Easter. 4 days before the Easter attack, a man named Mouwlana, who provided transport facilities to the hotel employees, went missing. The employees of the hotel say that Mouwlana used to call and made video calls to Latif then. Further, it has complained to the STF and police about the suspicious behavior of a Mouwlana then. The STF was also deployed to search for MouLana, but dramatically Moulana escaped
Latif is also accused of preparing safe passage for a number of serious criminals to flee the country.
a. It was Latif who arrange safe passage to PooGudi Kanna to escape India, who is a leading smuggler, murderer, and druglord
b. And when Latif accompanies suspicious characters inside the STF office on Bullas Road, he has instructed the check post not to record them in the books.
3. Latif is a mastermind in orchestrating fake propaganda by using media
A few days ago, an article was published on the Lanka E News website against the current STF Commandant. Lanka E News is a channel that hides in a foreign country and publishes articles against the governing authority and the individual in Sri Lanka without any accountability.
b. Instead of writing as Colombo-based journalists, hiding overseas and writing is not a duty but a disservice. The entire local journalism is undermined by it. It is worth noting, Lanka E News appeared for Latif many times. Latif was not involved in the arrest of Makadure Madhush. But Lanka e-news published a piece of fake news that apprehension of Madush was an operation led by Latif. Facts being so, it should be inquired whether Latif is behind the article published by e-news against STF a few days ago.
Poogudi Kanna escaped to India with Latif’s patronage and to date, he is carrying out various conspiracies from India against Sri Lanka.
a. Recently, a program was aired through Neth FM Balumgala, highlighting the possibility of another terrorist attack in Sri Lanka. The program was produced with the full sponsorship of Poogudi Kanna.
3. Poogudi Kanna and Manna Kanna have now converted to Islam. He is married to a woman named Mumtaz. In the Balumgala program, the one who described a terrorist attack is non-other than Mumtaz. It is an open secret that Mumtaz is having a close relationship with Latif.
As the facts are such, further investigations should be conducted in this regard
