01 July 2011
Certain armed elements are hiding behind political parties in the Eastern Province and we will take steps to disarm them, Eastern Commander Major General Boniface Perera said
He expressed these views at a meeting held between General Mangers and Political party representatives of the eastern province in the aftermath of the recent Batticaloa bank robbery.
He added that for the last one and a half years there has been an increase in murders and robberies in Batticaloa in the Eastern Province and that and the recent robbery was not a normal instance.
Furthermore he said that the culprits behind the robbery will be apprehended and that he advised these armed groups to handover their weapons to the police or search operations will be carried out to control this menaces.
He noted that only armed forces had the legal authority to carry arms
DM