President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that five out of the six recent shooting incidents were linked to five criminal gangs.
President Dissanayake made these comments in Parliament speaking on the increase of violence and criminal activity in the country.
He cited the Middeniya, Hulftsdorp, Kotahena, and Uswetakeiyawa murders, along with the theft of weapons from the Mount Lavinia and Minuwangoda Police stations.
“Except for the Minuwangoda case, which is still under investigation, all these incidents are the work of five gangs. They have all become active at the same time, suggesting a coordinated effort,” he said.
The President further identified Batticaloa and the Northern Province, including Jaffna, as regions where criminal gangs are being nurtured by individuals with vested interests.
President Dissanayake said that the recent surge in criminal activity aligns with progress in major investigations, including the Easter Sunday attacks probe and the airline corruption case.
“We have legitimate questions—who else has the power to activate five or six criminal gangs simultaneously?” he asked.
The President reiterated that the surge in violence was not linked to weaknesses in national security, but points to a conspiracy to destabilise and sabotage investigations into major investigations. (Islandnews)
