Chief Govt. Whip tells opposition not to cry every time a suspect is arrested over Easter carnage

‘They should be crying for the poor victims’

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the Opposition’s hypocrisy was amply displayed by the fact that its members were crying about the rights and plight of the suspects of the Easter Sunday terror attacks, while forgetting the predicament of victims of those attacks.

Addressing the media after a meeting held at his Ministry in Battaramulla, the Minister said: “Have you ever seen our Opposition members talk of the plight of the Easter Sunday victims? Whenever an arrest is made and those who are responsible for the terror attacks are taken into custody, they make statements against the government for making such arrests and highlight the rights of the suspects.

Minister Fernando said that those in the Opposition had been in power when the Easter Sunday carnage took place and the Opposition Leader and his party men had to seek justice for the victims and their family members. “The Opposition members should actually cooperate with us to conduct these investigations instead of attempting to derail them by raising wild allegations. I myself have asked them on numerous occasions to assist in the investigations. Instead, they cry foul whenever police make any arrest. They seem to be of the opinion that these arrests are similar to the way they incarcerated the then opposition politicians during their government. This investigation is a serious matter pertaining to national security; it is not a political witchhunt. We have given free hand to investigators and the police to make the necessary arrests and detain the suspects as per the needs of the investigation. They would not be released just because the SJB members weep for the rights of those suspects. Over 269 persons were killed and 500 others were wounded. Thousands of persons suffer the consequences of the loss of their loved ones and properties. So, I call on the Opposition again to think seriously before criticising the government and to think of the plight of the victims rather than the rights of those who had links with the terror groups before they open their mouths.”