Govt. urged to act fast on underworld

Rahaman says a coup could be in the offing

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday called for immediate steps to crack down underworld gangs and for the confiscation of illegal arms. UNP MP back bencher MPS Mujibur Rahaman and Wijepala Hettiarachchi urged the Government to take immediate steps in this regard stating that under world gangs are a hindrance for the

Opposition, which is behind these protests... charged that the JO has started visiting the members of Armed forces, who were imprisoned for various offences and then try to provoke these forces...charged that the ultimate objective of these acts may be to capture office through a military coup.

‘Yahapalana’ Government.

“The Government cannot take the responsibility for the Monday’s incident in Kalutara, in which an underworld figure identified as ‘Samayan’ was killed, but has the responsibility of seeing to it that underworld gangs and usage of illegal arms are done away with,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.

Mr. Rahaman said underworld gangs existed during the last regime and the time had come to end it now.

The MP said the Government should take steps on the protests that were taking place almost on a daily basis.

“These protests have a negative effect on the economy as hours and hours of valuable time of the people are lost, when they are held in the capital city.

“Many businessmen in Colombo have told me that their businesses have been adversely affected by these protests and had questioned as to why the Government had not done anything about it,” Mr. Rahaman said. He charged that it was the Opposition, which was behind these protests. He charged that the members of the Opposition had started visiting the members of forces, who were in prison for various offences and then tried to provoke the forces. He charged the ultimate objective might be to capture power through a military coup.