By unusuma.lk on (LK time)
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has highlighted in Parliament that inquiries have revealed that criminal networks have penetrated certain personnel within official organizations responsible for national security.
He further mentioned that every essential action will be implemented to fully eliminate organized crime in the future, while also admitting that this procedure will require some time.
The President expressed these views during the inaugural gathering of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence of the 10th Parliament, held today (20) in Parliament under his leadership, the Department of Communications in Parliament stated in a release.
During the discussions regarding the protection of court premises in the country, Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney at Law Harshana Nanayakkara, stated that a proposal has been formulated concerning the security of court premises and in the future, steps will be taken to strengthen security using advanced technology by assessing all stakeholders, including attorneys.
Additionally, Members of Parliament voiced concerns about the return of lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces that remain occupied by military bases, to their rightful owners.
In reply, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense mentioned that a review or reassessment will be carried out not just for lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces but across the entire nation held by the armed forces, and suitable resolutions will be made regarding their release.
Members of Parliament also questioned military-operated enterprises, including tourist resorts, and their potential for being converted into more beneficial investments within the tourism industry. In response, the President noted that an evaluation will be conducted on this matter, and informed decisions will be taken to maximize economic advantages.
Furthermore, the Members of Parliament pointed out the possibility of certain religious and ethnic tensions arising due to particular shrines established in the Northern Province. In response, the President stressed that religious and ethnic radicalism must be entirely removed from governance.
He additionally stated that all such matters can be settled in accordance with the genuine expectations of the inhabitants of those regions. He emphasized that certain factions aiming for personal political benefits tend to escalate such matters into political disputes. Hence, he assured that steps will be taken to prevent anyone from exploiting ethnic or religious divisions for political purposes.
Moreover, the necessity of forming a Committee related to National Disaster Management was also emphasized during the discussions. Consequently, the President directed officials to accelerate the required procedures to accomplish this task swiftly.
Among those in attendance were Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Defense Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekera, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and several Members of Parliament. Also present were the Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, senior officials from the tri-forces, representatives from the Ministry of Defence and its associated institutions, as well as Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, along with various other officials.
