Two illegal Israeli religious centres identified in Pottuvil, Thimbirigasyaya: Minister

STF security provided to the centre in Colombo 7, Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha have been removed by now

These religious places have been registered under the Companies Act as business ventures such as hotels or restaurants but completely different activities are taking place inside them   

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi revealed yesterday that four Israeli religious centres have been found to be operating in Sri Lanka and two of them have not been registered.   
He told Parliament that Israeli religious centres located in Pottuvil and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo have not been registered as religious places and that Israeli religious centres in Weligama and Ella have been registered under the Companies Act. SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said that the government has not removed the STF and police security provided to unauthorized structures operating as Israeli religious centres in Dehiwala and Colombo 7, even after questions raised from the Prime Minister in December last year.   
The Minister said STF security provided to the centre in Colombo 7, Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha have been removed by now.   
He said most of these religious places have been registered under the Companies Act as business ventures such as hotels or restaurants and added that however, completely different activities are taking place inside them.   
The Minister said it is difficult to collect details of these centres because of this nature in such centres.   
He said the Ministry is expecting to regulate such religious centres based on the information received.