APD | Sri Lanka says Islamic militants relatiated for New Zealand attack

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Apr.24(APD)-Islamic extremists attacked Sri Lanka in retaliation for the recent attack in New Zealand, the Sri Lankan Government said on Tuesday.

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena told Parliament that the attackers were part of the National Thawfeek Jamaath and that they are linked to an extremist group JMI.

Wijewardena said that steps will be taken to ban all extremist groups in the country.

Last month (March) two mosques in Christchurch were attacked killing several Muslims.

The gunman also live-streamed the first attack on Facebook Live.

On Sunday, at least seven suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka killing over 300 people and injuring several others.

Wijewardena also said that there had been intelligence reports of the Easter Sunday attack taking place but the information had not been shared with the Government.

He said that the information had only been in the hands of some officials but was not shared with the him or the Prime Minister.

Earlier some Government Ministers had said that the information had been received by the Police chief and the President.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)