Prime Minister urges speedy action on religious tension

• Says Police is empowered to take necessary steps

In an apparent response to the escalating religious tension in the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on the police to carry out their duty, claiming that law enforcement authorities have been given full responsibility to take action against those who create disharmony.

“The Police should act without delay,” Wickremesinghe said while speaking at the National Youth Centre awards ceremony held at Temple trees.

“Let’s allow the Police, the Attorney General’s office and the courts to address the situation, and go to the grassroots level and work against such extremism,” Prime Minister told the youths gathered at the ceremony.

He also said that forces that attempted to gain a political advantage by evoking racism were now trying to destabilise the country by instigating religious tension.

Condemning the actions, Wickremesinghe assured that his Government would not allow such attempts to be successful.

“We cannot allow Sri Lankans to be divided. Religion is a concept that unites everyone, not a concept that creates divisions among people. If there are attempts to spread racism or religious tension they have to be stopped immediately. Everyone is responsible for maintaining the peace,” Wickremesinghe said. 

In an apparent response to the inflammatory remarks made by hardline BBS monk Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero, Wickremesinghe said that a person who has no discipline in mind and speech, who causes disharmony between different religions, has no value.

During an altercation with the Police last Saturday, Gnanasara used derogatory and explicit language to refer to the Prime Minister, issuing open threats to the different religious communities in the country.

Highlighting the participation of a delegation of youth from Jaffna, Wickremesinghe said that it was a sign that the country was progressing with reconciliation efforts.