We are not following a double standard in any way – Minister of Mass MediaWe do not follow any double standards regarding Palestine.

What is important to us here is our national security. We will investigate statements and incidents that we feel will jeopardize our national security, says Minister of Mass Media and Health Nalin de Jayatissa.

It is not about expressing an idea in any society, but if that idea can motivate a wave of extremist violence, we should be concerned about it. The minister pointed out that a few individuals can disrupt an entire society with such statements, which everyone should accept as a country.The influence exerted by such statements can even lead to bombings. Investigations are underway to determine whether the statements made have incited violence. Minister Nalin de Jayatissa said that no one has been arrested for supporting Palestine.

The Minister said this while responding to a question raised by a Lanka Sky News journalist at a press conference held to announce cabinet decisions at the Government Information Department in Polhengoda, Kirulapone.

The question

The ultimate reason for arresting this young man was a sticker. Later, the police issued a press release saying that he was an extremist. Why are they taking this young man before the Ulema Council? He is being held at the CCD under arrest warrants. The police should first report someone they have arrested to the court and then present him to a psychiatrist. Why did they present the young man to the Ulema Council? What is the legal obligation of the police to show him to the Ulema Council or seek advice? The Ulema Council said that the young man was a radical and should be rehabilitated. What expertise does the Ulema Council have to say about this? Now you are protesting in Rome against the Palestinian genocide. The police are taking statements from young people who have posted a sticker in Sri Lanka, written a poem against Israel and shared a video in favor of Palestine. The government is intimidating them.

Here lies the problem. Are you following a double standard? After coming to power, you are fiercely anti-Israel. I am directly accusing the JVP for having a double standard, just like the NPP government?

Another journalist raised a question

On March 23, a young man was arrested in Slave Island. Following the arrest, when I raised a question during the cabinet decision-informing press conference held on March 26 the media minister said that he was not aware of it and would provide an answer this week. 

On March 28, a protest was held opposite the police headquarters at Slave Island. Until then, the police media spokesperson had not issued a press release.

On March 30, the police issued a press release saying that this young man had become radicalized and was arrested for that. The reason for the arrest was stated in the press release. But clearly, the young man was arrested because he had pasted a sticker saying “Fuck Israel”.

Another young man from Eravur was called to the police and questioned. He had published a poem against Israel. Another young man from the southern province was summoned to the police for questioning and his phone was kept in police custody after he allegedly shared a video about Palestine.

Then the house of the organizer of the March 28 protest was searched by the CCD and asked where the printed stickers were. On the same day  he was summoned to the Colombo North Crime Division and detained there for the whole day. The CCD has questioned him as to how Benjamin Netanyahu can be a terrorist? Why is he supporting Palestine from Sri Lanka? The role of the police has gone beyond the government. We suspect that this is happening in response to Israel?

Are such arrests justified while you are working in favor of Palestine? We also see Israeli cultural centers being built in various places in Sri Lanka, especially in Colombo. Last week, the Prime Minister said in Parliament that it is illegal. A construction is taking place in front of the Red Cinnamon in Kollupitiya with the security of the Police Special Task Force and the police. Is all this happening because of American-Israeli influence?

Police media spokesperson says that the ACJU claims the youth who is in custody has gone beyond that of an ordinary Muslim. Therefore, the Ulema Council has said that the youth should be rehabilitated, the police media spokesperson told the BBC. But the Ulema Council denies making such a statement. What the police media spokesperson says is a blatant lie. They are arrested for pasting stickers and then they are linking him with the ACJU.

What is happening here? The previous government used the Prevention of Terrorism Act to arrest innocent people in broad daylight. It seems that you are using the same Terrorism Act to arrest people in broad daylight. 

Answer 

Palestinian solidarity movements protest in various ways. There is no reason to arrest someone for pasting a sticker in favour of Palestine. Investigations are being conducted to determine whether the actions of some individuals provide motivation for terrorist or violent acts. We condemn these barbaric attacks on innocent people on the Gaza Strip. We stand for the rights of those people to live freely. We oppose hegemony or forced subjugation anywhere in the world. We not only do not approve of, but are completely opposed to, the bombings of hospitals and killing thousands of children