- Investigations into many cases complete
- Legal measures against attempts to obstruct justice
Certain politically connected groups are attempting to scuttle investigations into high-profile killings, including the Easter Sunday attack, in an effort to destabilise the country, Public Security Ministry Secretary Ravi Seneviratne said yesterday.
Seneviratne told a press conference at the Government Information Department, that national intelligence services and law enforcement agencies have identified efforts to incite public unrest as the Government moves forward with key investigations.
“These groups are trying to derail the probes because they fear the legal consequences,” he said adding that any attempt to interfere with the investigations or destabilise the nation will not be tolerated.
His remarks come amid a surge in underworld violence, with rival gangs engaging in deadly clashes while their leaders operate from neighbouring countries. Seneviratne cited the recent killing of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, who was shot inside the Hulftsdorp Court complex, and the triple murder in Middeniya in the Southern Province. He said the police had swiftly arrested the suspects in both cases within hours.
He said the authorities are aware of the links between certain political elements and underworld criminals, adding that the survival of these criminal factions depends on the support they receive from the political figures concerned.
He said that as the Government intensifies its crackdown, these groups may resort to various tactics to disrupt the process. “When they see their political backing shifting due to the investigations and legal processes put in place by the Government, they will try different ploys to unhinge the process,” he said.
Seneviratne said that investigations into some cases of abductions and killings have been completed, and legal proceedings are set to begin soon. He said that the authorities are fully aware of those behind the attempts to obstruct justice and vowed that strict legal measures would be enforced against them in the near future. “We know who they are, and the law will deal with them accordingly,” he said.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that the Government has identified the main group behind organised crime and underworld violence. All recent shootings are being investigated accordingly.
“We have a responsibility to maintain public security and national security. There will be no breakdown in that process. We are focusing attention on an organised group that is behind the escalation of underworld gang violence,” Minister Wijepala said, in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
