Based on complaints made to Hotline 118 by women who were being blackmailed, two persons have been arrested by the Police, Public Security Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara said, adding the women need not fear in the future and called on them to provide information on any person who tries to blackmail them. He assured that the law would be strictly enforced against such perpetrators.
The Public Security Minister said this at the ceremony organised to establish Public Security Committees in the Southern Province.
He said the three main factors that contribute to the increase in crime in Sri Lanka are the lack of discipline, restraint and a feeling towards the country. He said that the main reason he had proposed military training for the youth was to instill that sense of discipline, restraint and sense of patriotism. However, he said that some people misunderstood his proposal and thought he wanted to militarise the country.
Minister Weerasekara also noted that some elements in the Opposition in order to gain political advantage are trying to point fingers at the Government over the Easter Sunday terror attacks which took place during the previous regime. He said that everyone connected with the previous regime should take responsibility for destabilizing the intelligence units of this country.
“The authorities have arrested almost 7,600 in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks and upon interrogation, almost 300 of them have been identified as having had direct and indirect connections to the Easter Sunday attacks. Of them conspiracy and murder charges have already been filed against 32 suspects while 241 are detained under detention orders for their indirect involvement in the attacks. Filing charges against those connected with the Easter attacks was delayed as we had to wait for the Presidential Commission report. However, now that we have received the report, charges will be filed against those responsible without delay.”
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma and Matara District Coordinating Chairman MP Nipuna Ranawaka were also present.
