COLOMBO: National Shura Council (NSC) – an alliance of national level Muslim organisations in Sri Lanka has urged those concerned about an Al Qaeda presence in the country to lodge complaints with police without demonising the Muslim community.

NSC President, Tariq Mahmud in a statement to the press has pointed out that although it is their belief that allegations of jihadist groups operating in Sri Lanka and of their involvement in the recent southern Muslim-Buddhist clashes are absolutely false, the claims have detrimentally impacted the Muslim community in the country. “The allegations are being made by those who have no defence or apology for the serial crimes unleashed by hate charged mobs on innocent Muslims on 15 and 16 June,” he notes, referring to the riots in Southern Alutgama last month.

While urging concerned parties to lodge complaints with the IGP, the NSC has assured their fullest cooperation in the investigations as well as in taking legal action against ‘such devils behind every bush’ if needed.

Mahmud has further highlighted that it should be taken into account that while the Ministry of Defence has refuted allegations of extremist Islamic groups operating on Lankan soil; the claims have in fact been made by foreign intelligence agencies.

He points out that the accusations are being made to legitimise the entry of foreign powers into Sri Lanka with aims of destabilising the country and establishing a puppet regime. In the statement he has called for an investigation into groups or individuals who are in the payroll of these ‘foreign powers’.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2014