The Easter bombings were not merely a local problem, but a global issue which Sri Lanka must have no part in, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.
The President made this remark addressing a gathering of public officials in Sainthamaruthu, Kalmunai, as part of an inspection tour of the area. A confrontation between suspected terrorists and government forces in Sainthamaruthu led to a suicide blast on 26 April, killing 15, according to the military.
“This is a problem connected to international terrorism. It’s a global problem. We need to think about how we can remove this problem from Sri Lanka,” he said.
Much of this has already been done, said Sirisena, adding that the police and the security forces will finish the job in due course.
“We will do our utmost to support [the police and the forces] as a united people with no division among us. I request heads of institutes, school principals, mayors, Pradeshiya Sabha members and everyone else in this area to cooperate closely and cordially with the forces,” he said.
The President also visited the Zion church in Batticaloa, which was one of the blast sites in the Easter Sunday attacks. According to the President’s Media Division, during his inspection tour, Sirisena has instructed the eastern commander in chief and the security forces to take immediate steps to reconstruct the ravaged church.
Minister Daya Gamage, Eastern province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah, Member of Parliament Angajan Ramanathan and heads of the tri-forces joined accompanied the President on his visit.
(Republic Next)