Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has affirmed that all ‘extremists’ have been eliminated and calls on the public not to act in manner that would push innocent Muslims towards ‘radicalization’. The Prime Minister was speaking during the opening of a new technical laboratory at the Mallika Navodya School and a Samurdhi distribution in Hiniduma, last Friday.
The Prime Minister also participated in the opening of a new, three-storeyed, building at the Thawalama National School under the Langama Pasala, Hondama Pasala project, built with the assistance of the Thawalama Divisional Secretariat Office at a cost of Rs.595 million. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe added that he would provide a new building to the Mallika Navodya school as well.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that all the development projects were reaching completion as the ministries have allocated money. The Prime Minister also commended the services rendered to the area by Ministers Vajira Abeywardena and Gayantha Karunatilleka. “The country faced a devastating situation and its civilians encountered a security threat. But I would like to say that now, the country is returning to normalcy. All suspects who had connections with Zahran’s group are now under custody. I believe that I should reveal the measures taken by the Security Forces to the public. Many have questioned us as to what the government had done about the Easter Sunday attacks,” he added.
“I, together with some ministers, went to the Defence Ministry by 12 pm on April 21, 2019, and talked to the security heads. I also talked with President Maithripala Sirisena. Then I instructed the Security Forces to arrest those responsible for the attacks and the Security Forces were also told not to spare any terrorist.
Initially, the Security Forces were able to arrest one of the groups that carried out the bomb attack; the rest were arrested within two months after the attack. We were able to control the situation within a short period of time. Our Security Forces were able to curb terrorism, which amazed the international community,” the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that it was essential to prevent similar tragedies in the future. He added that therefore, one must not push innocent Muslims towards radicalisation.
The Prime Minister said, “The attack was carried out by a few. Therefore, one must not label every Muslim as a terrorist. If so, it would only lead to the creation of more terrorist organizations,”“As Sri Lankans, we all have a responsibility regarding national security. Even Muslims helped in the investigations. We should protect them as well.I would take this chance to appreciate the services rendered by the Security Forces. We should move forward as a nation,” the Prime Minister added.
