Police arrest two over alleged links to extremists

By Asiri Fernando

The Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) yesterday arrested a 44-year-old person from Mawanella for allegedly promoting extremist views. 

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the suspect had been deported from the United Arab Emirates on 5 December 2020 and was arrested by the TID whilst his laptop computer and electronic devices were taken into custody. 

Police believe the suspect had been radicalised and had engaged in fundraising activity to support extremism in the UAE. According to DIG Rohana, the TID plans to hold the suspect for further investigations through a detention order, obtained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. 

Another suspect, a 27-year-old resident of Kattankudy, was transferred to the custody of the TID following a request made to the Magistrate by them to hold him under a detention order. 

He was arrested following an investigation by the Batticaloa Police Station and placed in remand custody prior to being transferred to the TID. 

According to DIG Rohana, the suspect is alleged to have promoted extremist ideologies and maintained a close relationship with deceased suicide bomber Muhammed Rilwan, who was killed days after the Easter Sunday Bombings in Sammanthurai. TID is conducting further investigations regarding both suspects.