Mahinda had an incessant cough at the launch of the book 'Searching for the Mastermind'.

The book 'Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Attack,' authored by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila, was recently launched at the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mandiraya in Colombo 7, adding a new dimension to the ongoing public discourse about who the real mastermind behind the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks is. In a context where some political groups accuse former State Intelligence Chief, retired Major General Suresh Salley, and he remains in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Gammanpila's book emphasizes that the real mastermind of the attack is Zahran Hashim.

At the launch ceremony of this book, which is dedicated to intelligence war heroes, invitees also took the opportunity to appreciate the service of intelligence operatives who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

The launch of this book was attended by a large crowd, including the Maha Sangha led by Muruththettuwe Nahimi, but notably, no one representing the government participated. However, many politicians, including former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, were present. The presence of several political figures from both the government and opposition, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Thalatha Atukorale, Sagala Ratnayaka, Namal Rajapaksa, Sarath N. Silva, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, on the same platform was interpreted as a precursor to a future opposition alliance, which also caused some unease within the government.

During the ceremony, due to a cough experienced by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Gammanpila was ready to switch off the air conditioning in the hall. However, considering the discomfort of the public, the former President objected and only requested a glass of warm water from the security officers. Although a fake PDF copy of this book had previously begun circulating on social media, including WhatsApp, the author did not let it hinder the success of the event.

The participation of United National Party (UNP) representatives in this event also sparked a debate within the party. Party Chairman Vajira Abeywardena, Dinith Chinthaka, and Dhanuka Karunaratne discussed this matter during the ceremony itself, and Mr. Vajira Abeywardena stated that they do not accept the views of the former intelligence chief and that the official stance of the United National Party would be announced via social media. Meanwhile, the party's Vice Chairman, Naveen Dissanayake, expressed his strong displeasure regarding the participation of UNP representatives, stating that he would not attend the event and regretted the participation of party leaders.

The participation of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leaders in this event also initiated a strong conflict within the party. MPs like Mujibur Rahman and Nalin Bandara severely questioned Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Madduma Bandara regarding their attendance at an event contrary to the party's stance that the Easter attack was a conspiracy. In response, the Opposition Leader pointed out that he attended by invitation to fulfill his duty as Opposition Leader and to gain an understanding of various viewpoints, not to exonerate anyone or gain political advantage. He also emphasized that his stance on the need for an impartial international investigation into the attack has not changed. The party's General Secretary also indicated that while some points in the book could be agreed upon, the overall opinion was not accepted. However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also questioned MP Mano Ganesan about the Opposition Leader's visit during a discussion with Tamil National MPs, to which Mr. Ganesan stated that he knew nothing about it.