Zero tolerance if SLPP members involved in violence - Namal | Sunday Observer

Zero tolerance if SLPP members involved in violence - Namal

19 May, 2019

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa says that the SLPP will take stern action against its members if found to be involved in communal violence that followed the Easter Sunday attacks, nearly a month ago.

The MP told the Sunday Observer that looking at the pattern and modus operandi it was very obvious that those were organised attacks.

“If you look at the shops that were damaged and the fact that the vandals had burnt and damaged Buddha statutes, it is clear that these were not selected targets. These were crimes organised against humans for mass destruction,” the MP said.

He said that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) does not engage in any activity that is against the law of the land. Hence they will not tolerate any member of the party engaging or conniving in such activities.

He said that the violence that took place was unnecessary and investigations should be properly carried out to find out who was responsible. Drawing parallels with the incidents that took place in Digana, he said the authorities failed to continue the investigations and it ended with the arrest former Director of the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID), DIG Nalaka de Silva.

“There were several voice recordings of those who were involved in the Digana incident and it very clearly stated who funded them. If the Digana incidents were funded by interested parties, there can be a reasonable suspicion that the recent attacks were also funded and organised.

Earlier last week, Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa called on political parties to refrain from getting involved in inciting violence for petty political gain.

After visiting many victims, specially the surviving little children of the Zion church in Batticaloa, Rajapaksa said that swift

action should be taken not only to heal the physical wounds but its psychological impact as well.

“I met a child who saw her sister dying before her own eyes. I cannot imagine the psychological trauma that she must be going through. These issues need to be addressed. The Government should ensure that the surviving victims are given proper counseling,” he said.

He said that the Government collectively has been acting irresponsibly before as well as after the attacks.

MP Rajapaksa also called on the Government to ensure that they not only make popular decisions at a time like this, but make unpopular decisions for the benefit of the victims and people of the country.

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