Colombo: All the Islamic extremists involved in the Easter suicide bombings are either killed or arrested, Sri Lankan police and military chiefs have claimed, assuring that the country is now safe and can get back to normalcy. The tri-forces commanders and the police chief said the security of the country following the 21 April bombings that left 257 people dead has been ensured with adequate measures and steps have been taken to implement a special security plan.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickremaratne said that all those directly linked to the attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels have been arrested or were killed. He also said that all the explosives believed to be linked to local Islamist outfit National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), blamed for the attacks, have been found. Wickramaratne did not say how many people have been arrested over the bombings, but police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said that 73 people, including nine women, were arrested and being questioned.
200 Islamic clerics expelled
Lanka home affairs minister Vajira Abeywardena said that over 600 foreign nationals, including around 200 Islamic clerics, have been expelled from the country following the attack. He said that the clerics had entered the country legally, but amid a security crackdown after the attacks were found to have overstayed their visas, for which fines were imposed and they were expelled from the island.
"Considering the current situation in the country, we have reviewed the visas system and took a decision to tighten visa restrictions for religious teachers," Abeywardena said. "Out of those who were sent out, about 200 were Islamic preachers." The minister did not give the nationalities of those who have been expelled, but police have said many foreigners who have overstayed their visas since the attack were from Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan.
Bombers travelled to Kashmir, Kerala for training
Lankan army chief Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said some of the bombers had travelled to India for what seems like training for terror activities. He said that the Army possessed information with regards to their travel. “They had gone to India, Kashmir, Bengaluru and Kerala. Those are the information available with us. Possibly for some sort of training or to make some more links towards the other organisations outside the country,” he said.
His statement comes days after India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a 29-year-old Kerala resident for allegedly conspiring to commit a terrorist act through Kasargode ISIS module. The arrested has been identified as Riyas A, alias Riyas Aboobacker, alias Abu Dujana, who has reportedly confessed to have been inspired by Zahran Hashim, the alleged mastermind behind the suicide bombings.
Lifts social media ban
Meanwhile, Lanka has lifted the temporary ban on several social media networks. The government called on the public “to use social media responsibly even though the ban is lifted, due to the prevailing situation in the country.” According to internet monitoring groups, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Viber were among those affected.
