Turkey calls for action against FETO members in Sri Lanka

The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey last week requested the Sri Lanka government to take action against individuals with ties to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation ( FETO) operating in Sri Lanka.

The Embassy also called on the Government to take the necessary steps to deport individuals involved with the organisation from the country.

It has also asked the government to close down FETO affiliated schools and businesses operating in the country.

The Embassy said Sri Lanka, on earlier occasions, had co-operated with Turkey in its struggle against FETO, and the request is seen for the of this co-operation.

Turkish Embassy sources said the embassy had provided Sri Lankan authorities with details of FETO affiliated members, schools and businesses operating in Sri Lanka.

Embassy sources added that many foreign countries had already complied with the Turkish government's request following the attempt to overthrow the Turkish government in July 2016. Two-hundred-and fifty-one (251) persons were killed and over a thousand were injured, in the failed coup.

The Embassy said, that, with the exception of the US government, where FETO has not been banned, and is known as 'The Gullen Movement', a number of countries had complied with the Turkish requests, closed down schools and businesses affiliated to FETO and deported individuals affiliated to that organisation.

The Embassy added that the leader of the 'Gulen Movement' -Mr. Fetullah Gulen- continued to live in the US city of Pennsylvania.

The statement added, Turkey and Sri Lanka have stood in solidarity and co-operation in the international arena for many decades and have supported each other in their fight against separatist terrorism.

The embassy stressed the importance for both countries to continue the fight against terrorism following the Easter Sunday attacks which took place last month.