Colombo – April 26: Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala has attributed the recent surge in gun violence to underworld gangs created and nurtured by former political regimes, cautioning the public that while efforts are underway to suppress the violence, the situation cannot be reversed overnight.
In a candid and wide-ranging statement, the Minister said that shootings could continue even tomorrow, as dismantling a society shaped by criminal-political alliances requires time and systemic reform.
“Let’s not repeat the obvious—we know the shootings are happening,” he said. “These attacks are being carried out by criminal groups that were built and empowered by past political powers. They fed them, used them for their benefit, and now the country is paying the price.”
Wijepala insisted that the government has already begun the process of disarming and dismantling these groups, and that arrests and weapons seizures are ongoing. International cooperation is also underway, with police officers already deployed to foreign countries for intelligence sharing and operations coordination.
“This isn’t something we can fix in four or five months. What we inherited is a society shaped by crime and impunity. It needs to be changed step by step,” the Minister added.
In response to concerns about law enforcement’s effectiveness, the Minister acknowledged a decline in institutional integrity and said efforts are being made to strengthen public trust and security through the creation of Public Safety Committees in every Grama Seva Division.
These committees will include 25% youth and 25% women representation, along with school principals, clergy, and retired members of the police and military. Their role will be to gather community intelligence, promote peace-building, and help curb local crime.
“We are empowering citizens to be part of the solution,” he said. “But let’s be realistic. Shootings can happen again. We cannot prevent every incident overnight. This is a land shaped by years of criminal rule. It takes time to undo that damage.”
The Minister also made serious allegations against Eastern Province politician Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan), stating that new evidence has linked him to 21 murders, the disappearance of the Eastern University Vice Chancellor, and the illegal acquisition of over 200 acres of land in Batticaloa.
“Pillayan has boats, vehicles, hotels—and crores worth of assets,” Wijepala said. “He was not just any politician—he was Vice President of the SLFP, part of the Pohottuwa alliance, and a Chief Minister. All of these are now under investigation.”
Regarding the Easter Sunday attacks, Wijepala said that three to four individuals have come forward with new information, further underscoring the depth of the criminal-political nexus that continues to destabilize Sri Lanka.
His remarks reflect a stark admission: that while the government is making efforts to dismantle entrenched criminal networks, the battle ahead is long—and the legacy of underworld-linked politics will haunt the nation unless rooted out systematically.
