The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Presiding Member, today’s adjournment motion on measures to control drug operations is truly welcome. Drug trafficking and organized crime must be brought under control. The government is showing concern on these issues.

¶ 02 In our political history, the post-2009 period saw a political outlook that forcibly produced communalism. After the war ended in 2009, there was a drive to create communalism, to control minorities and subjugate them. Governments in that period took up organized criminal operations. Among them, the “Grease Devil” phenomenon was prominent—carried out across the country, especially in the North and East, allegedly using segments of the military or those connected to them, ostensibly as a covert operation to probe for armed culture among minorities. When people pursued these “Grease Devils,” they ended up fleeing to army camps. In Nintavur, even when we caught them red-handed, the STF came and protected them in 2011—we witnessed this directly.

¶ 03 Subsequently came the Aluthgama riots—again an organized massacre. Then the Digana riots—also organized. During the Easter bombings, especially Christians were unjustly killed and injured, and in that aftermath, the Muslim community was subjected to vilification—globally and in Sri Lanka—depicted as terrorists operating in groups. This stain persists. To remove that stain, when you sought power you received strong Muslim votes—based on the belief you would identify and disclose the masterminds of the Easter attacks.

¶ 04 This tragic event created tension between Christian and Muslim communities. The government must resolve this. You certainly know who is behind it. Those connected to such acts even hold positions in government—this is known. In our areas, soldiers went house to house and seized even kitchen knives and utensils, recording them—despite knowing ordinary people did not carry out such attacks. They occupied the Nintavur Pradeshiya Sabha building for years and returned it only recently. These planned operations were meant to conceal the masterminds of the Easter attacks.

¶ 05 The drugs issue too has been carried out with military involvement—particularly in the North and East—rapidly spreading drug use to stifle educational advancement of Muslims and Tamils there, to prevent them from rising and holding high office. There is strong evidence that drug trade operations were conducted through the military.

¶ 06 When we held various positions in our villages, we examined this: drug trafficking had links to army camps, naval bases, or a police officer in the area. There is clear evidence. Many arrested for drugs are recorded as army deserters. Therefore, those involved in trafficking must be arrested and given stronger punishments. Especially in the North and East, drugs were spread with the aim of making Muslim and Tamil communities victims and crippling education. We view this as a deliberate operation. Hence, we will fully support government measures on this matter. Thank you.