Govt. pledges to maintain law and order in the country

Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

The Government has taken all measures to maintain law and order and there will not be any room for unruly elements to create any sort of disturbances, in the country or in any part of the north over the kidnapping, rape and murder of an 18-year-old schoolgirl in Kayts, Jaffna, Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

Rajapakshe was addresing a media conference held at the Government Information Department yesterday.

He pointed out that 130 suspects were arrested for pelting stones at the Jaffna Police Station and the Magistrate’s Court on 20 May. He said that Police had so far arrested nine suspects over the rape and killing of the schoolgirl.

According to the Minister, the violent protesters attempted to harm the eight suspects arrested earlier for the gruesome deed committed on the victim Siloganadan Vithiya last week. The Kayts Police after arresting the suspects transferred them to the Jaffna Police.

Then the protesters gathered in front of the Magistrate Court and the Police Station in Jaffna and started hurling stones and attacking Police personnel who tried to save suspects from being assaulted and the Court and the Police Station being damaged.

The situation was brought under control with the help of the Riot Police and security forces after firing tear gas to quell the emotionally-agitated mob, the Minister said.

Ruwan calls for vigilance over conspiracies 

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene

The Government yesterday requested people to be vigilant about campaigns carried out by certain political and extremist elements to mislead the Southern people, using media reports and video clippings of recent LTTE commemorative events held in some countries. 

It said the material used to substantiate these claims also included reports of the kidnapping, rape and murder of an 18-year-old schoolgirl in Kayts, Jaffna.

The State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, refuted allegations made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a group of Opposition MPs that the LTTE flag was hoisted in parts of the North at a ceremony commemorating the end of the civil conflict. 

Reports received from intelligence agencies state that no such incident had taken place in the Northern or Eastern Provinces and these rumours were spread by certain individuals with vested interests, through media sources and social websites to achieve their own political agendas.

He also pointed out that President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and he were committed to ensuring national security, reconciliation and coexistence among the people of the country.

He added that he regretted the actions of certain groups in misleading the people of the South by spreading false information to achieve petty political gains.