Probe launched to reveal if Hidden hand operating behind escalating underworld crimes: President

By Ajith Siriwardana  

The government has launched an investigation to ascertain whether there is a certain hand behind the escalating underworld crimes or whether they are mere clashes among underworld gangs, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.  

He told reporters in Kandy that the recent incidents pose no threats to national security or public safety whereas conflicts among underworld groups exist.  

The President said the NPP government is taking firm action to completely eradicate organised crime, which had previously thrived under political protection.  

The President said the NPP government is taking firm action to completely eradicate organised crime, which had previously thrived under political protection.  

After visiting the Mahanayake Theras in Kandy, the President said underworld gangs have been nurtured with political blessings over the years and that now it had grown into a destructive network.  

The President said some information has been received which raise the question whether these are mere clashes among rival underworld gangs or whether a certain hand is operating behind these incidents and hence, investigations have been launched into this.  He said a special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic will be held for the public after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and that discussions regarding this event were held yesterday with the Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters.  

The President said exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic has not been organised for 16 years and that the government made a request to the Mahanayake Theras to organise such an event. He said the Mahanayake Theras agreed to hold an exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April.  

He said arrangements for the exposition were agreed upon with the participation of the Governor of the Central Province, the Kandy District Secretary, other government officials and the Diyawadana Nilame of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.  

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, where he paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and received blessings, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.