Religious leader who posted video on Easter Sunday attacks remanded until June 04

A Moulavi who released a video statement on the web justifying last month's terrorist attacks has been remanded until June 04 by orders of the Vavuniya District Court today (May 23).

The Moulavi who has been identified as the Chief Priest of a mosque in Vavuniya, has been accused of releasing a video statement that praises the terror attacks which took place on Easter Sunday.

In his video statement, the suspect who is a resident of Chettikulam, Vavuniya had allegedly expressed satisfaction over the attacks by citing that the Islamic faith was being spread around the world.

Security forces who received complaints regarding the Muslim priest had been unable to arrest him immediately since he had undertaken a religious pilgrimage to Mecca.

Accordingly, Police Organised Crimes Preventive Division officers had arrested the suspect when he had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport from Mecca. The arrest was carried out upon an order obtained from the Vavuniya District court.

He was ordered to be remanded after being produced before court today.