PM warns of instability should disruptive acts of violence continue

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has cautioned that instability could prevail in the country if disruptive acts of violence continue to take place while destroying the country's peace.

Issuing a special statement, the Prime Minister said that groups which are attempting to stir up violence in the country were a distraction to the security forces who are carrying out investigations into the recent terror attacks.

"The motive of these groups who are attempting to cause panic in the country, is to inconvenience the Police and the security forces, to destroy the people's lives and to create uncertainty in the country," Mr. Wickremesinghe observed.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while referring to the recent acts of violence which erupted in certain parts of the country including the North-Western Province. However, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that security forces have been deployed for security in order to restore normalcy in those areas.

He further added that the security forces have been given ample powers to enforce the law to its maximum against individuals who destroy the country's peace and disrupt the curfew.

"Security forces will take severe measures against law breakers," the Prime Minister warned while calling on the people to assist the police and the security forces in order to establish peace in the country.

The Prime Minister's full statement is as follows :

As a result of international terrorism, an inhuman terrorist attack took place on Easter Sunday. Our security forces are conducting investigations very successfully in this regard.  We were able to take legal action against many connected to this incident and the security apparatus was able to control the situation.

However if the country's peace is broken and there are ethnic problems, stability will collapse.Owing to these disruptive actions, the security apparatus is hindered from carrying out their investigations. The result of causing disruptions in various places will lead to disruption of the Vesak Festival too. These groups tried to cause unrest in areas of the North Western province. Properties were damaged. Now police and military are in the process of getting the situation under contol.

These groups are attempting to cause more unrest in other areas. The objective of causing problems at this time is to inconvenience police and the military, to disrupt people's lives and to destabilize the country. For this reason, the government decided to impose a countrywide curfew. I have given full authority to the security apparatus to take strong action against those breaking the emergency law and the curfew. The security apparatus will take strong action against lawbreakers.

I ask that full support be given to the police and security forces to safeguard the peace.