PM says joining foreign terrorist groups not against Sri Lankan law - Interview

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the Sri Lankan government was aware of the fact that the locals who joined the Islamic State had returned to the country, however, they could not be arrested since joining a foreign terrorist group is not against the law.

PM Wickremesinghe stated this speaking to Sky News in an exclusive interview.

He said, “We knew they went to Syria and they joined a foreign terrorist organization, but in our country to go abroad and take part in a foreign armed uprising is not an offence here.”

Islamic State is a terrorist group according to Sri Lankan law, but there are no laws that enable us to take into custody those who join foreign terrorist groups, he says. Only those who belong to terrorist groups operating in Sri Lanka can be arrested, the Prime Minister added.