We should not allow Muslims drawn towards terror group: President

World had taken by surprise by the appearance of IS leader Abū Bakr al-baghdadi who accepted the responsibility for the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka as many leading countries in globe though he was killed four years ago, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.

“Leader of the terror group made a statement and accepted the responsibility for the attacks in Sri Lanka. Whole World thought Baghdadi was dead but he came out in public after the attacks in Sri Lanka. America’s Trump, Russia’s Putin and UKS’ Theresa May thought he was killed four years ago. They have been taken by surprise at the end,” the President said.

“The intelligence units of eight countries which are in Sri Lanka at the moment have got alarmed by this footage put out by this terror group leader,” he added.

President recalled that the terror group attacked New York, Malaysia, India and many countries in Europe. He said none of these countries were able to prevent these attacks. “Russia had played the biggest role in destroying this terror group. America and other Western nations have also played a role,” he said.

According to intelligence reports only 150 Sri Lankan Muslims have associated with the terror group. Therefore we should think whether we are going to push the rest of the Muslims towards this terror group. We have experienced during the 30 year old war the consequence of associating all Tamils with LTTE. Many Tamil Youths were drawn towards LTTE after July 1983 riots. I appeal to everyone not to allow Muslims to be drawn towards the global terror groups. One should get rid of the fear psychosis which is among the Muslim people,” he further said.

President recalled that the terror group attacked New York, Malaysia, India and many countries in Europe