Probe launched on Ven. Gnanasara’s statement about imminent terror attack: Minister

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Investigations are being conducted on the statements made by Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera that a second extremist attack is imminent, Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament yesterday. 

Minister Weerasekera said the Islamic State is an ideology which is based on laws in the Quran.   

“We thank the Venerable Thera for the disclosure he made. What the monk says is that there could be an attack as long as ISIS ideology exists in Sri Lanka. Any youth who holds such ideology can stage an attack at any time. he added.  

“Wahabism which is based on the Quran says that families have to commit suicide for Islamism if they are to enter heaven. The Islamic youth who staged the recent attack in New Zeeland were being monitored from 2017 but was later released by the then Sri Lankan government, “he said in response to a question raised by SJB MP Mujibur Rahaman.   

“ It was Rahaman who shouted when certain Islamic youth who were arrested for promoting Wahabism in Sri Lanka.