Police have enough powers to curb hate crimes – Rajapaksa

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the Sri Lanka Police has sufficient powers to curb religious intolerance in the country and that there is no need to introduce new laws.

“The government can put a stop to this if it wants to,” he said, responding to a question from journalists regarding the Prime Minister’s recent statement regarding the rise in hate crimes targeting the Muslim community.  

However, he stated that if such laws need approval of the Parliament, they will allow it for the people as that is not an issue. “But there are sufficient laws to resolve these problems.”

Responding to a question regarding Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization, he charged that it is the government which is keeping Gnanasara Thero and that there is no point in accusing them.

“The problem is not whether he is arrested or not. This needs to be stopped. I’m not talking about one side. Problems exist on both sides and the government must intervene. What’s the point of a government if not?”