Govt. outlines measures to re-establish national security

• Urges all politicians to break away from opportunistic political agendas to rebuild nation
• Despite challenges Govt. continues development work in full steam
• Govt. to recruit 22,000 project managers in near future
  
   

By Charumini de Silva

The Government yesterday outlined measures taken to re-establish national security and to continue development work following the 21 April extremist terror attacks, while insisting on political parties should abstain from opportunistic agendas. 

“It is been one month and six days after the Easter Sunday extremist terrorist attacks, and as a responsible Government we have been able to provide the families of diseased and injured some relief. We are extremely thankful for our security forces for controlling such a terror group and for carrying out investigations throughout the country to ensure national security,” Public Administration and Disaster Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara told journalists yesterday.

He further commended the Tri-forces and the Police for their tremendous service in mitigating any such incidents by extremist terrorists after 21 April.

Noting that communal violence and mob attacks in several places in Kurunegala and Minuwangoda were such unfortunate incidents, Bandara called on all Sri Lankans to be united and stand stronger in rebuilding our nation, without being misguided by various political agendas.

“I think as a country we must get together and act, instead of trying to create advantageous opportunities for political parties and agendas. These opportunistic political groups only think of how they could topple the Government by manoeuvring these incidents. At a time like this, we all have to leave aside our religions, races, political, and other differences to eradicate terrorism from the country and work together to build a prosperous nation,” he added. The Minister called on all politicians to break away from the opportunistic political agendas and unite to rebuild the nation.

“There is a huge controversy on a Muslim doctor in Kurunegala, and grenades being found in a school premises in Baduruliya, but please don›t create communal violence and misconceptions among the public to achieve political agendas. Once proven, we assure to penalise all wrongdoers for their allegations,” Bandara said.

He said the Government imposed several emergency laws and regulations to ensure national security, carried out investigations island-wide, and banned three organisations that were linked to the international extremist terror group. In addition, he noted that the Government was in the process of drafting new laws and regulations to reinforce the current rules.

Outlining some major steps that were initiated by the Government, he stressed that they took a decision to bring all madrasas and other Arabic educational centres under the purview of Ministry of Education.

He also said that all rules and regulations that were imposed, and which are to be introduced, were formulated after discussing with Muslim religious leaders.

The Minister also said that despite all the challenges, Government has not taken a backseat on the development work island-wide, and that they were forging ahead in full steam.

According to him, the Government has called for 22,000 applications particularly from graduates for project managers to be recruited in the near future. 

Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe