SLPP raises national security concerns

Tuesday, 29 January 2019 03:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says recent criminal incidents require strong Govt. response

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday raised concerns over national security and called on the Government to provide strategies to increase the level of security in the country.

SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris - Pic by Ruwan Walpola

“We have seen an increase in the number of shooting incidents in the country and drug-related crimes as well as the recent discoveries of high explosives. Such incidents have raised concerns over the state of national security,” SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L Peiris told reporters at the party headquarters.

He said the recent discovery of a stash of explosives in Wanathawilluwa could not be taken lightly as an isolated incident. He also claimed information revealed on suspects who were arrested in connection with vandalised Buddha statues in Mawanella raised suspicion that it was an organised attempt at creating ethnic disharmony. “During the investigation of the explosives discovered in Wanathawilluwa, Police had found a connection with the vandalised Buddha statues in Mawanella. This is a serious matter related to national security, therefore we call on the Government to expedite the investigation to arrest people behind these incidents,” he added. Prof. Peiris noted that the recent statement by Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando on illegal arms being circulated in the country provided added impetus to their argument on national security. He pointed out the Government should take greater measures to control circulation of illegal arms.

Prof. Peiris argued illegal arms had been the root cause of recent crimes throughout the country. “There is an increase of activities of underworld gang members and there were several shooting incidents, which took the lives of innocent people,” Prof. Peiris charged.

Prof. Peiris also slammed the statement by Defence Secretary Fernando that 11 soldiers would be prosecuted. He said the SLPP did not agree with Fernando’s remarks on who could be termed a ‘war hero’. During a ceremony at Nalanda College recently Fernando said that only soldiers who had been given the honorific title “Ranaviru” through a gazette notification could use the term and it could not be attributed to every soldier.