SALLEY’S CALL TO ARMS HIS UNDOING
* Sixteen complaints against Salley and sister
* Arrest based purely on allegations
* Started taking meals from Sunday
Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo, Azath Salley was arrested for
inciting citizens to take to arms. In an interview to Junior Vikatan
magazine on April 24, 2013, Salley had said the Sri Lankan Muslim
community had no option but to take to arms. This report could also be
accessed on website www.vikatan.com.
The public that accessed the report over the website had also
complained to the authorities over the statement. The CID commenced
their investigations based on a report by intelligence that Salley had
made statements and given interviews to the print and electronic media
that could lead to ethnic strife and inflame passions that could
threaten the hard won peace in the country. His call to arms was
serious, authorities stated.
Meanwhile, Media Centre for National Security Director General
Lakshman Hulugalle said there were many complaints against Salley,
concerning speeches inciting religious and ethnic discord and about
financial fraud.
He said some were also trying to bestow a religious angle to the
issue and added that the government had a number of Muslim ministers and
politicians in its ranks and had the fullest support of the community.
Salley who was arrested last Thursday, following complaints received
by the CID about speeches he made inciting racism, is also being
investigated for several cases of financial fraud, Police Spokesman SP P
M H B Siriwardene said.
SP Siriwardene said both Salley and his sister have 16 complaints of
financial fraud against them.
Hulugalle said said five of the complaints which have a direct
bearing on him are currently being investigated.
Answering questions from the media at a news briefing at the MCNS
yesterday, Hulugalle said there was no truth to some reports suggesting
that Salley’s arrest was politically motivated.
He said Salley’s arrest was purely based on the allegations levelled
against him and added that certain elements with vested interests were
trying to portray it as something else in an attempt to seek petty
political mileage.
Hulugalle said such allegations won’t hold water as Salley was not a
top rung politician either.
“The government also has very strong ties with Muslim countries and
their support for Sri Lanka was amply demonstrated at some recent world
forums,” he said.
Hulugalle said the alleged statements Salley is said to have made in
Chennai and elsewhere recently were an insult to the Muslim community
and an attempt to harm national unity.
Answering a question, he said Salley who was on a fast as a mark of
protest over his arrest had also begun to take meals from Sunday.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesman SP Siriwardena said Salley was arrested
following his failure to appear at the CID office despite several
reminders to do so to investigate allegations against him.
He said a report has also been forwarded to the Attorney General in
this regard, regarding investigations on Salley |