Govt. turning blind eye to hotbed of extremism: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday the government had turned a blind eye to the rise of extremism while proceeding with the witch-hunt of the Rajapaksa family.

Addressing a press conference, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said 1,680 Madrasas had been established thus far and that as many as 130 Islamic clerics been granted visas to enter the country during the first seven months of 2018. Besides, resident visas had been extended to 305 clerics, he said.

He said it all suggested that there had been lax surveillance with regard to such activities while the government was obsessed with pursuing legal action against the members of the Rajapaksa family.

Referring to the fast unto death undertaken by MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera, he said it was solely in the hands of President Maithripala Sirisena to remove governors Azath Salley and M.L.A.M. Hizbullah.

“Governance has collapsed in their provinces since public servants refused to accept their orders,” he said in reference to the instances where the local government members protested Mr. Salley at a meeting in which Kalutara and Colombo Municipal Commissioner V.K. Anura declined to carry out his orders.

“The leakage of a video footage showing Mr. Hizbullah with some Saudi nationals at a deluxe hotel in the East on the day of terror strikes is serious,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)