Sri Lankan govt accuses opposition of links with organised crime underworld gangs

Colombo, May 20 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday, citing intelligence reports, accused opposition parties of maintaining links with organised crime and underworld gangs.
“We have intelligence reports saying the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and United National Party have links with organised crime and their former ministers and politicians are linked with underworld gangs,” Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said in the parliament.
Wijepala was responding to a statement by the main opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, who raised concern over the rising rate of gun violence and murders since January this year. “Fifty-two killed in 79 incidents of shooting over the last eight months. These are happening while the government maintains that such incidents do not threaten national security,” Premadasa said…..| read more on THE WEEK