Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

Peaceful environment during the Vesak period

May 21, 2019

A peaceful environment prevailed in the country during the Vesak holidays and life is returning to normalcy. Nevertheless, Police is carrying out operations and investigations together with the Tri Forces and the Civil Defence Department. Presently, 69 individuals are detained by the CID while 20 individuals are being held under TID custody in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings, revealed Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara, at a press briefing held at the Media Centre in Kollupitiya on Monday (20).

Three individuals were arrested by the Kurunegala Police after receiving information that a group of persons had conducted a training camp at a coconut estate in the Alakoladeniya in Kurunegala. They were arrested on 09th May and later were remanded till 24th May. During further investigations another two individuals were taken into custody on 11th May. A number of cheques were also recovered from one of the two suspects. The other suspect is an employee at the Kurunegala hospital. A large amount of money had been deposited to his bank account from time to time.

Another individual was arrested on 18th May for questioning in regard to this training camp. This individual has been serving as an indexing officer at the Parliament. He is also being detained for questioning, the Police Spokesman further said.

Commenting on newspaper article, the Police Spokesman said that a full page newspaper article had been published on 12th May in a newspaper concerning a confession purportedly made by Zahran’s wife to the Police about a suicide pledge taken by the Easter Sunday bombing terror group at luxury apartment complex in Kollupitiya. The Police Spokesman said that this is not an official news issued by the Police. He also said that such news reports could hamper ongoing investigations and legal proceedings as well. The Police Spokesman requested the media to take more concern on reporting news and that to publish only officially provided information.