By Skandha Gunasekara
State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena refuted allegations that some locations known to have had extremist activities were being prevented from being searched due to the influence of politicians.
Several reports in the past week had indicated that a powerful government minister had prevented search operations from being carried out in the Galle District in areas known to be populated by a certain community.
Reports claimed that Minister Wijewardena, who also hails from the Galle District, had prevented security forces from carrying out searches in some areas as those areas belonged to his constituencies.
However, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena rejected such claims.
“The security forces have been given leeway to search any area that they suspect or in which they have intelligence of extremist or terrorist activities,” the State Minister said.
He went on to say that the due to the freedom given to the forces to carry out their search operations unhindered, a large number of suspects had been arrested.
State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena refuted allegations that some locations known to have had extremist activities were being prevented from being searched due to the influence of politicians.
Several reports in the past week had indicated that a powerful government minister had prevented search operations from being carried out in the Galle District in areas known to be populated by a certain community.
Reports claimed that Minister Wijewardena, who also hails from the Galle District, had prevented security forces from carrying out searches in some areas as those areas belonged to his constituencies.
However, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena rejected such claims.
“The security forces have been given leeway to search any area that they suspect or in which they have intelligence of extremist or terrorist activities,” the State Minister said.
He went on to say that the due to the freedom given to the forces to carry out their search operations unhindered, a large number of suspects had been arrested.