Govt. to set up JOC to tackle terrorism

President Maithripala Sirisena has told party leaders yesterday that arrangements have been made to set up a Joint Operation Command (JOC) to tackle the latest terrorist threat and that the entire security establishment would be overhauled.

He requested all party leaders to cooperate with the government and the law enforcement agencies and help create a peaceful environment in the country irrespective of their political ideologies and affiliations.

The President convened party leaders meeting at the presidential secretariat to brief them on the steps taken by the government to tackle the terrorist threat from Muslim fundamentalists.

He said the government had deployed Police and Armed forces personnel to arrest the suspects whoever they might be and ensure the safety of all Sri Lankans.

Party leaders said all those involved in the terrorist activities must be rounded up and put behind bars and pointed out that there had been lapses on the part on the part of the security establishment in tacking terrorism and emphasized the need to get help from experienced political leaders to successfully fight terrorism.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, R. Sampanthan, Vijitha Herath, Dinesh Gunawardana, Patali Champika Ranawaka, D.E.W. Gunasekara, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Mano Ganeshan, Rauf Hakeem, Rishard Bathiudeen, Palani Digambaram, V.S. Radha Krishnan, Douglas Devananda, Prof. Tissa Witharana and Asath Sally were present at the discussion. (Sandun A Jayasekera)