Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Tuesday that authorities have arrested or killed all the militants responsible for the deadly Easter blasts, but warned that the country still faces the threat of Islamic State (IS) terror attacks.
Speaking in Parliament during a debate on the current security situation in the country, Wickremesinghe said all those directly linked to the Easter Sunday attacks have been either killed or are in custody.
Wickremesinghe said investigations had revealed the bombers had direct or indirect links with IS and the island nation needed sophisticated technology to deal with the threat posed by such terror networks. “The danger is not over, we are now a victim of global terrorism,” pointed out Wickremesinghe.
He said that Sri Lanka must work with the international community to face the global threat from terrorism. “Some assume working with the international community means bringing down foreign troops. That will not happen,” asserted the Sri Lankan PM.
Wickremesinghe’s comments came as Sri Lankan police and military chiefs assured that the country is now safe and can get back to normalcy.
Addressing a press conference Monday night, the tri-forces commanders and the police chief said the security of the country following the April 21 bombings 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.