Colombo, March 10 (Ada Derana): President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a three-member committee of retired judges to probe the violent incidents in Kandy in the past week .
The committee will investigate into the reasons for this aggression including the violation of law and order, the damage to the lives and property, whether a conspiracy was behind the incident, the actions taken by authorities to suppress the incident and the steps to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
It appears that President has virtually taken over the Law and Order Ministry with the Declaration of a State of Emergency for seven days from March 6. Though there is a full time Law and Order Minister now (Ranjith Madduma Bandara) it is the President who is taking the major decisions.
Meanwhile ,former President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Kandy on Friday and met the Anunayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters, the Muslim Moulavis and Hindu Priests at Lohan Ratwatte’s residence in Mahiyawa and discussed ways and means of restoring peace in Kandy.
The Anunayake of Malwatte Chapter, the Ven Niyangoda Sri Vijithasiri Thera and Anunayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Ven Venderuwe Upali Thera said all communities should live in peace and desist from acting in a manner that promotes violence or provoke other religious groups.
Rajapaksa said the Mahanayake Theras, Muslim Moulavis and Hindu Priests should meet together and discuss how these contentious issues should be resolved and the area returns to normal.
He said the Sinhala community and the Muslim community should act with restraint and work together to avoid creating unnecessary issues that end up in clashes among the various ethnic groups.