President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament today that there seems to be an organised attempt to cause instability with criminal gangs becoming active at the same time as the government intensifies investigations into past crimes/corruption.

“There is a pattern in which all these gangs are becoming active at the same time. This seems an organised attempt which could be done at the behest of one single source. We have received such information which we are now investigating,” the President said while speaking during the committee stage debate on the votes of the Ministry of Defence.

He said that this could be related to the ongoing investigations into cases of corruption and crimes.

“We have studied the five high profile incidents and all have been committed by five different gangs. This shows that all criminal gangs have become active at the same time. We have identified Batticaloa and the North where such gangs can become active. This is because there are those who have had links to these gangs who are attempting to cause unrest,” he said.

He added that the Government has filed indictments in the Krissh cases and soon indictments will be filed in the air bus case and Keith Noyar case while progress is also being made in the investigations into the Easter attacks.

“Its 16 years since the Lasantha Wickramataunga murder. The court needs evidence to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt. After 16 years how can we gather such evidence? Such investigations are difficult but we will do it,” he said.

The President also alleged that there was a nexus between politicians, some police personnel, judicial officers and lawyers and vowed to break the links that have helped the underworld to thrive.

“Underworld criminals will not get patronage under the NPP government. We will not safeguard any criminals or the corrupt,” he said.

He vowed to make the armed forces and the police professional bodies once again and not be instruments of politicians.