Sara Jasmin, who was reported dead, is alive - Minister Ananda reveals

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated in Parliament that if the need arises to arrest Pulastini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, a prominent member of Zahran Hashim's group connected to the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, steps would be taken to obtain a warrant in the future. The Minister emphasized that while some information has been received by investigative units suggesting she is not dead, there is no definitive information indicating that she is currently residing in India.

The Minister of Public Security revealed these facts yesterday (07) in Parliament, responding to a question raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya's Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahman.

MP Rahman pointed out that Sara Jasmine, a member of Zahran's group, is not dead, and that a certain group has aided and abetted her escape. The MP recalled that there were problematic issues with the DNA tests conducted in the past and mentioned that even ministers of the current government, when in opposition, had stated that she was in India. The MP questioned why the current government, despite being in power for a year, has not obtained an international warrant for Sara Jasmine, similar to how open warrants are obtained to bring back underworld members residing abroad.

Responding to this, the Minister of Public Security stated that a very deep and extensive investigation into the conspiracy behind the Easter attacks is currently underway under the new government. He clarified that although information has been received that Sara Jasmine is not dead, her whereabouts have not been definitively confirmed, and therefore investigations are ongoing, and legal actions have also been taken. The Minister, stating that he is not prepared to disclose certain facts at this moment to protect the investigations, further added that steps would be taken to obtain the relevant warrant when necessary.

Previously, in July last year, this matter was also raised in Parliament. The Minister of Public Security at the time revealed in Parliament that the hitherto accepted belief that Pulastini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, died in the 2019 bomb explosion in the Sainthamaruthu area, has come under serious doubt. He pointed out that serious suspicious information regarding the DNA test report used to confirm her death has been revealed during investigations.

According to the Minister, the first two DNA tests conducted on body parts believed to be Sara Jasmine's did not match the DNA samples of her closest relatives. However, it has been alleged that an attempt was made to certify her death through a third DNA report obtained through the intervention of former Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera. As the manner in which these DNA samples were obtained and tested has raised serious doubts, the Minister stated that the relevant facts would be presented to the court at the appropriate time.

These facts were revealed in response to a similar question raised by MP Mujibur Rahman in July during an adjournment debate in Parliament regarding the Easter Sunday attacks. Mujibur Rahman emphasized that there is information suggesting Sara Jasmine safely left the Sainthamaruthu explosion site at the time of the incident, and that the truth could be uncovered by questioning a Major who served under the current Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara, who was then the Commander of the Eastern Province.

The MP further stated that due to the previous government's need to confirm Sara Jasmine's death, then Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickramaratne went with another person to obtain the controversial third DNA report, and that the identity of this other person could be ascertained by questioning the IGP. The Criminal Investigation Department has currently launched a deep investigation into this incident.

Responding to the debate, Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara admitted that a very small group within the intelligence services was behind the Easter attacks but emphasized that the vast majority of the intelligence services were not involved. He acknowledged that he served as the Army Commander for the Eastern Province at the time of the Sainthamaruthu incident and informed the House on those days that he had given a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department for over six hours regarding this matter.