Deputy minister vehemently rejects false reports

Technology and Research Deputy minister Faiszer Musthapha in a statement yesterday vehemently rejected reports alleging that the Criminal Investigation Department was engaged in preparing a list of mosques and Madrasas.

The deputy minister said he inquired about the veracity of the news from Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa after several Muslim community leaders and organisations made representations to him voicing concerns on the matter.

Mustapha said that the Defence Secretary categorically denied that there was any such move by the CID or any other law enforcement agency. The full statement:

“There have been various reports alleging that the Criminal Investigation Department was engaged in preparing a list of Mosques and Madrasas. Consequently, several Muslim community leaders and organizations have made representations to me voicing their concerns. “Accordingly, I checked the veracity of these statements. In this context,Y.L.M Navavi, Director of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, assured me that these reports were without any foundation. I also brought this issue to the attention of the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who categorically denied that there was any such move by the Criminal Investigation Department or any other law enforcement agency. Furthermore, the Defence Secretary was perturbed about the dissemination of such false information as it is detrimental to the progress of the reconciliation process being carried out by the government after nearly 30 years of prolonged armed conflict.

“These attempts by interested parties to spread false propaganda, is clearly a move to distance the Muslim community from the government. Further, it is a subtle move to disrupt the existing healthy understanding between the government and the Muslim community who have unreservedly expressed their confidence in the efforts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to rebuild the nation.

“If a trustee of a Mosque has any concerns regarding this issue, he may bring it to my notice enabling me to take it up with the appropriate authorities”.