Curbing racial violence:|Hakeem informs Gotabhaya of need for institutionised mechanism

By Shamindra Ferdinando-June 25, 2014,

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem has suggested to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that an institutionalised mechanism be established to prevent recurrence of religious violence.

Minister Hakeem met the Defence Secretary at the Defence Ministry yesterday.

Having briefed the party of his meeting with Defence Secretary Rajapaksa, Justice Minister Hakeem told The Island last night that he had got an opportunity to discuss the entire gamut of issues relating to recent violence at Alutgama and Beruwela with the Defence Secretary.

Yesterday’s meeting was meant to explore ways and means of thwarting violence, Minister Hakeem said, adding that nothing could be as important as having an institutionalised mechanism to meet any eventuality.

Responding to a query, the SLMC leader said that in the wake of Alutgama mayhem, the government shouldn’t resort to ad hoc measures to prevent another bout of violence.

Minister Hakeem reiterated allegation that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) was responsible for attacks on the Muslim community. The Defence Secretary pointed out that there were other groups beside the BBS under scrutiny.

Asked whether he had taken up any other issues, Minister Hakeem said that they had also discussed the need to take tangible measures to prevent hate speech as well as inflammatory statements.

A deeply concerned Justice Minister said recent violence pointed to the need for an ‘early warning system’ to ensure the government could act swiftly and decisively before disaster struck. The Minister said that he had informed Defence Secretary Rajapaksa of that need and some shortcomings in security set-up during the recent disturbances.