Video: Probe source of funding to Muslim extremists: BBS

21 July 2015 12:51 pm

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today urged the government to investigate the alleged funds that were coming to Muslim extremists and expose them to the country.

“It should investigate how the funds are coming to them, from which countries and for what and publish the details to the country,” BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said.

“Most of the problems are created because of not revealing to the public the facts relating to the Welikada, Dehiwela, Aluthgama and the latest in the Keththrama ground incidents,” the Thera said.

“The Government should take action to stop such funds coming to extremists without fondling them in the aim of getting votes in the upcoming Parliamentary Elections,” he said.  

While addressing the media by the BBS CEO Dr. Dilanthe Withanage said that the BBS had warned of the danger of Sri Lankans being recruited by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) six months ago.

Withanage said that when the BBS initially warned of this possibility, it was ridiculed as a racist comment.

However, this warning had now become a reality, with reports of a Sri Lankan ISIS fighter being killed in Syria, he said.

The IGP has instructed Central Province Police to conduct investigations into the slain ISIS militant, who is reported to be a Sri Lankan.

Media reports claimed that the militant was known in the organization as Abu Shuraih Sailani. He was reportedly a former Sri Lankan Karate instructor.

“Several Sri Lankan Muslim communities have requested the BBS to help free them from this extremism and they said that they would support silently,” he said.

“We can clearly say the Sri Lankans, who worked for ISIS, have involvement in the Aluthgama incident. Sri Lankan authorities are afraid of investigating in to the ISIS related incident in the country,” Mr. Withanage said. (Chaturanga Pradeep, Indika Sri Aravinda)