No discrimination against any community - Jeyaraj

Rasika Somarathna

Strongly denying allegations of discrimination, the Government yesterday reiterated that tough security measures ensured public safety.

They would not victimise any particular community.

Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle speaking to the media at the MCNS said that not only Tamils but Sinhalese and Muslims had also been taken in for questioning during the search operations, following the twin bomb blasts on Wednesday.

Out of a total of 2,554 taken in for questioning 2,000 had been released on the same day the Minister said, while many others had been released after questioning.

Out of the remaining 202 in custody 102 were held in fiscal custody due to insufficient identification papers and would be released as soon as proof of identity is established.

The remaining 100 were kept on detention orders on the suspicion of being LTTE activists out of which 87 were from Jaffna and the remaining 17 from upcountry, the Minister said.