(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the security forces has been empowered to take stern action against persons who disrupt peace in the country and urged the public to give maximum support to the forces to maintain peace in the country.
In a special address to the nation, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the tri-forces personnel and the Police have been working tirelessly to restore peace and normalcy in the country following the brutal Easter Sunday attacks.
The Premier said several persons have been apprehended in connection to the attacks and the defense forces have been successful in preventing further disruptions within the country.
Following is the full statement made by the Prime Minister addressing the nation on Monday;
As a result of international terrorism a brutal attack targeted the country on Easter Sunday. Our troops are successfully conducting investigations into these attacks. We were able to capture the majority of the parties involved in the attacks. Security Forces were able to control the situation.
But if the peace breaks down and the issues of communalism rise, the country becomes unstable. Security forces will not be able to carry out their investigations properly due to these disruptive activities. The result of sporadic communal violence will be disruption of the Vesak program.
These groups tried to create disturbances in several places in the North Western Province. They have damaged property. Now the police and the security forces have brought the situation under control. These groups are attempting to create disturbances in this manner in other places now.
The purpose of creating trouble is to inconvenience the police and the security forces, to destabilize the country.
Therefore, the government decided to impose a country wide curfew.
I have given full authority to security forces to take stern actions against those who are disrupting the peace in the country and violating the emergency law and curfew. Security forces will take stern actions against the people who violate the law.
Therefore, I urge you to provide maximum support to the police and the security forces to safeguard peace.
