By -Shantha wijesooriya

It is clear that some groups are saying that national security is in danger not because of their love for the country but for some other hidden agendas and vested interest. When a bomb exploded inside a Bandarawela bus in 2016, the same group started the same plot by voicing “the national security is under threat”. However the faces that were rejected by the people have been hidden and are now raising their voices again that national security is in danger, says Minister of Mass Media and Health Nalinda Jayatissa.

The Minister said that we are conducting thorough investigations into these incidents, that we have taken steps to bring all those involved in the incident to justice, and that we will never allow criminals to be given political asylum like previous governments and disrupt the law and order of the country. He told the concerned groups not to lie and attempted to stop the tourists and investors coming by saying that the national security is in jeopardy.

He said this while responding to a question raised by a journalist at a press conference held this evening on 25 to inform about cabinet decisions held at the Government Information Department in Polhengoda, Kirulapone.

Question raised by the journalist

Intelligence agencies have revealed that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should be more concerned about his security. Even though intelligence agencies have reported such concerns, you accuse politicians of having connections with the underworld. Who are the politicians who have connections with the underworld? What is the government’s opinion on national security?

He further stated:

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala have stated in several media interviews that this is a conflict between organized crime groups. We see that the opposition is carrying out a propaganda project to exploit it and say that the country’s national security is in danger. It is seen that the opposition members are engaged in a plot to make the fact that national security is in danger a news item in Parliament today. The opposition  are saying that there is no national security in the country. They are trying to portray there is a decrease of tourists as well as investors. We have clearly stated that there is no issue regarding national security. The government is taking necessary steps.

If you ask whether an incident that occurred in the Eastern Province recently poses a threat to national security, yes, that incident is an issue for national security. That incident affected national security. It was resolved in a way that did not pose a threat to national security.

This is not the first time that a conflict between organized crime groups has resulted in the killing of a person inside a courthouse in our country. Some people were killed in high-security zones. Investigations are underway regarding those incidents. Given how widespread this network is, several police officers have already been arrested. Investigations are underway regarding other incidents as well. Investigations have reached the courts. Investigations are being conducted against all of them who spoke through WhatsApp messages. The names of those who are revealed will be known in the future. We will never take this situation lightly. We are conducting thorough investigations into these incidents. We will bring all those involved in this incident to justice. We clearly say that we will never allow criminals to be given political asylum like previous governments and thereby disrupt the law and order of the country. ‍We request those concerned parties that you do not try to stop tourism and investment by lying about the lack of national security. The intelligence agencies have revealed that you should be more careful about the security of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Despite when such intelligence agencies have reported, you accuse politicians of having links with the underworld. Who are the politicians who have links with the underworld? What is the government’s opinion on our  national security?