Taking the law into their hands:

'Certain elements behind incidents'

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

"Certain elements are behind every incident where the public took the law into their hands. There is an organized strategy in connection with this. The government will take stern action against culprits behind this," Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Rambukwella said that four persons have been taken into custody in connection with the assault on Sri Lanka Medical Council Registrar Dr. N J Nonis.

"Another two persons were taken into custody in connection with another recent incident," he said.

Minister Rambukwella pointed out that the 'mob mentality' is unexplainable.

"It is there all over the world. Sri Lanka had the gun culture in 1971, 1988, 1989 and during the last 30 years because of LTTE terrorism.

"The time has come to find why the public take the law into their hands. Two or three persons are adequate to create riots. That is how it happened in London recently," the minister said.

"Only a handful of candidates violate the election law. The majority respect it. Posters and liquor are out from most candidates' election campaigns. This is a good trend and it will be popular with time," Rambukwella said.