Had the officials fulfilled their responsibilities, the Easter Sunday explosion could have been avoided, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Addressing a function at the Nelum Pokuna Theratre, Colombo, yesterday, Sirisena said as a result of the inaction on the part of the officials, some people held the Executive President responsible for the Easter Sunday attack.

"They said we had prior knowledge of possible terrorist attacks. Those are baseless, duplicitous allegations. We could have all the lost lives had the officials in charge of the national security fulfilled their responsibilities without delay," the President added.

The President said the high-ranking officials overlooking the defence apparatus did not inform him about the imminent terrorist threats.

According to a report submitted by a Presidential committee headed by Justice Vijith Malalgoda, the Attorney General has initiated investigations against former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujith Jayasundara and a number of senior Police officers.