SLPP requests Muslims to aid investigations

Tuesday, 30 April 2019 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Calls on Muslims to assist security forces by providing information

By Nuwan Senarathna

Opposition Muslim politicians backing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday requested the Muslim community to provide information on any suspicious individuals or activities to security forces to aid in investigations after the Easter Sunday attacks.

SLPP chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris

MP Susil Premajayantha

MP Keheliya Rambukwella

MP Rohitha Abeygunawardene

Addressing media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) Spokesman Mohammed Muzammil said the Muslim community in Kalmunai tipped off security forces to locate the terror group that killed themselves during clashes on Friday evening.

“I am glad that the Muslim community came out and provided much-needed information to security forces, in fact, security forces acknowledged the information provided by the Muslim community that helped them to locate the suspected terrorists,” he added.

He pointed out that a small number of people who claimed to be Muslims had damaged the reputation of the entire community but the group believed to be suspected terrorists were less than 1% of the entire Muslim community.

“I urged those who have information to provide it to security forces to identify this very small percentage of Muslims that hold ideologies which Islam does not teach.” Muzammil said the attack could not be considered as an attack against one community, as it was an attack against every citizen in the county to created division among communities to fulfil their extremist goals.

“This is what exactly happened to the Tamil community as well. Only a few hold extremist ideologies but the entire community had to suffer for that. But if the Muslim community takes action now we can eradicate extremism and restore the peace in the country.”

He charged that Muslim Ministers and MPs that represent the Government could not run away from their responsibilities, insisting they should apologise for failing to prevent attacks in a situation where intelligence had warned the authorities.

Muzammil pointed out that the Government had sufficient time to identify the potential threat, adding that he noted organisations such as All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) had already provided information on the suspicious activities of certain extremist groups.

He also requested all communities in Sri Lanka to join to eradicate terrorism in Sri Lanka regardless of their religion, ethnicity or political ideology.

Pic by Lasantha Kumara