CCC concerned over law and order situation

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on Monday said it was deeply concerned about the possibility that events that threaten the law and order situation in the country, will unfold, Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary General & CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) said in a letter to Defence Secretary, General (Rtd) S.H.S. Kottegoda.

This concern stems from positions taken and utterances made very recently by certain parties, the letter said.

“As the highest ranking official vested with responsibility for the maintenance of law and order, we expect you will ensure that all necessary measures are taken to maintain peace, law and order and prevent the occurrence of unlawful and disruptive activities that will disturb the peace of the communities. We also need to understand whether all allegations against those who are suspected and accused of engaging in terrorist activities have in fact been investigated and that the administration of justice process has been complied with and that we can have confidence that all suspicions are being adequately investigated irrespective of the positions being held by those who are suspected to be involved,” the letter noted.

While the letter doesn’t refer to any particular incident, some observers said the chamber’s concern may have arisen out of the statement by (recently released from jail) Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara of the Bodu Bala Sena who said there would be ‘pandemonium’ if the President doesn’t accept the demands of hunger fast monk Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera. The monk is on a hunger fast demanding that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Governors Azad Sally and M.L.M. Hisbullah be removed from their posts for alleged complicity with Islamic Extremist bombers. – ENDS -