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Arrest of Lankans on terrorism charges in Gujarat: Muslim grouping renews campaign for their release

By Shamindra Ferdinando
The All Ceylon Union of Muslim League Youth Fronts (ACUMLYF) has requested K. Navas Kani, MP, of the Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML) to inquire into the high profile case of four Sri Lankans taken into custody in Gujarat on terrorism charges during the Indian general elections in May-June this year.
Identifying the four persons taken into custody on May 19 at the Ahmedabad airport as Mohammad Nusrat, Mohammad Nafran, Mohammad Rashdeen and Mohammad Faris, the grouping’s President Sham Nawaz told The Island that they were seriously concerned about the police here asking the families of the detained whether their loved ones returned home.
The newly-elected National People’s Power (NPP) should take up this issue with India at the highest level, Nawaz emphasised the responsibility on the part of India to explain the current status of the investigation as the previous Sri Lankan government, in no uncertain terms, cleared all four of any connection with ISIS, or connected with religious extremism.
Nawaz said that he also brought the matter to the notice of Prof. K. M. Cader Mohideen, President, IUML, and was confident that an effort would be made to ascertain the truth. The arrests were made by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad.
Asked whether ACUMLYF received anticipated attention from the government here, Nawaz said that they were given an opportunity to meet the then State Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya in the first week of June. “In spite of assurances given, the Foreign Ministry never bothered at least to get back to us. We are quite confident that they were on business visits. And there is absolutely no basis for accusations that they were involved in religious extremism,” Nawaz said.
Responding to another query, Nawaz said that perhaps the Gujarat arrests may not receive the attention during formal talks between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Premier Narendra Modi this week but it shouldn’t be allowed to be forgotten under any circumstances.
“They must be either charged or released,” Nawaz said, adding that the Muslim community here shouldn’t be allowed to be targeted and humiliated over their alleged allegiance to ISIS, particularly in the wake of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
Nawaz pointed out that some media reports, soon after the arrests, suggested that they arrived in India to cause mayhem during the general election.
Nawaz emphasized that their effort shouldn’t be misinterpreted as an attempt to intervene on behalf of a group dubbed as terrorists.
Sri Lanka should represent the interests of the detained persons in terms of the Vienna Convention on consular assistance.
Pointing out the conflicting claims regarding the arrests, Nawaz asked whether India gave Sri Lankan authorities access to the suspects
Asked whether the families of the detained, or some other interested party sought their intervention, or he knew them personally, Nawaz emphasized that ACUMLYE stepped-in on its own.
Nawaz said that the delegation stressed the need for an independent local investigation as many raised doubts over the continuing allegations regarding the ISIS operations here.
Such fears impacted the economy in many ways, Nawaz said, reiterating the responsibility on the part of the government to conduct no holds barred investigation into the allegations made by Indian authorities.
Contrary to repeated declarations in Indian media that the four arrested at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport, in Ahmedabad, had been linked to ISIS and coordinated by a Pakistani handler, investigations conducted by Sri Lankan authorities contradicted the Indian findings, Nawaz said.
Nawaz said that the recently conducted presidential and general elections caused further delays. Unfortunately, the new government, too, seemed slow on this matter hence our decision to seek the assistance of the IMUL to take up the issue at hand.
The Indian media quoted Gujarat Director General of Police Vikas Sahay as having said that the suspects told investigators that they had been earlier associated with the banned Sri Lankan radical militant outfit, National Thowheeth Jamaath (NJT), and joined IS after getting in touch with Pakistani handler Abu Bakr Al Bagdadi.
The NTJ has been blamed for the Easter Sunday attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 270, including 11 Indians. Following the arrests made by Gujarat authorities, several persons were arrested here over their alleged involvement with the four. Nawaz said that the government should set the record straight regarding the alleged Gujarat plot without further delay.
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PM underscores the outstanding universal value of Anuradhapura’s Living Heritage at International Expert Conference in Paris

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya who is on an official visit to France from 31 March to 2 April 2025, participated in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on “An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage”, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on Tuesday 1 April 2025.
The International Conference was organized by UNESCO in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka to showcase the universal significance of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura and its associated living heritage, and to garner international cooperation for its conservation and sustainable development.
Inaugurating the Conference, Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay warmly welcomed Prime Minister Amarasuriya to UNESCO, while recalling her own memorable visit to Sri Lanka in July 2024 where she had the valued opportunity to witness firsthand the “exceptional heritage” of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, which she described as “a spiritual hub, a royal capital of over a 1,000 years, and the birthplace of Theravada Buddhism.” Referring to the inscription of Anuradhapura in the world heritage list in 1982, she underscored the importance of global solidarity and international cooperation in safeguarding this extraordinary world heritage for posterity, and the intent of the Conference to explore further means of its conservation and sustainable development through international cooperation. In concluding her address, the Director-General recalled the words of renowned Sri Lankan archaeologist and former President of ICOMOS International Dr. Roland Silva, that Anuradhapura continues to be “a modern wonder of the world.’
Addressing the high-level segment, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya outlined Sri Lanka’s national vision to preserve the global heritage of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura for education, pilgrimage and heritage tourism, while ensuring the maintenance of a careful balance between conservation, sustainable development, and the needs of local communities. The Prime Minster also extended her deep appreciation to Director-General Azoulay for her vision and leadership which was instrumental in convening this International Conference dedicated to Anuradhapura.
Striking a personal note, the Prime Minister reminisced about her childhood and youthful memories of this heritage city, where she felt “the magic of Anuradhapura, the sense of awe at the creativity and skills of our ancestors.” She described Anuradhapura as “a unique mix of the ’sacred’ (activities belonging to the spiritual realm) and the ’profane’ (relating to the everyday and the material realm),” while also highlighting the advanced architectural and hydraulic expertise of this ancient civilization, whose origins can be traced back to 900 BCE.
Referring to UNESCO’s institutional mandate, the Prime Minister commended the organization—led by the Director-General, the secretariat, and its member states—for its invaluable contributions to advancing global discussions on education reform, mainstreaming cultural recognition, and harnessing knowledge and innovation for global peace and sustainable development amid complex geopolitical challenges.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi presented the integrated management plan of the Government of Sri Lanka towards the sustainable and integrated management of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. He reiterated the Sri Lanka Government’s commitment to preserving the Outstanding Universal Value of the heritage site through inclusive, sustainable development. He further urged the international community to join hands with Sri Lanka in safeguarding this shared heritage for future generations, and to ensuring that its benefits reach local communities.
The Conference brought together internationally recognized experts, senior officials of government, development partners, heritage professionals and the diplomatic corps in exploring innovative and sustainable approaches to integrated site management. The key themes discussed comprised the integration of tangible and intangible heritage, capacity building, strengthened community participation, the application of digital tools in conservation, sustainable tourism aligned with World Heritage guidelines, and the critical importance of international partnerships and resource mobilization for long-term preservation of this heritage site.
The Prime Minister had a meeting with Director-General Azoulay on the sidelines of the Expert Conference where thematic areas of cooperation were discussed. The Prime Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s interest in enhancing UNESCO’s presence in the country through suitable programmes, and apprised the Director-General on progress in Sri Lanka’s Category II South Asia Centre for Teacher Development (SACTD), Sri Lanka’s engagement in the programme of work of UNESCO, Sri Lanka’s educational reforms and areas of synergy with UNESCO, as well as the country’s commitment to the annual celebration of Vesak in UNESCO, among other matters. The Director-General reiterated UNESCO’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s multifaceted collaboration with the international body.
At a reception hosted by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of Sri Lanka’s 75-year partnership with UNESCO, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to further strengthening this collaboration in key areas of cooperation. She did so in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, and Chairperson of the Central Cultural Fund.
The Prime Minister also formally handed over to the Director-General, Sri Lanka’s Instrument of Accession to the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, demonstrating the country’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity, artistic freedom, and international collaboration. Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates accredited to UNESCO, senior representation of the UNESCO Secretariat including Director and team of the World Heritage Centre, the President of the France – Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the French National Assembly, expert participants of the Conference, academics, scholars and senior officials of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs attended the reception and conveyed their warm greetings and felicitations to the Prime Minister.
The delegation of the Prime Minister comprised the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; the Director General, Central Cultural Fund Dr. Nilan Cooray and the Director General, Department of Archaeology Prof. Thusitha Mendis. The Prime Minster was assisted by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera and senior staff of the Embassy and the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Deshabandu Tennakoon further remanded until April 10

The Matara Magistrate’s Court has ordered that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon be further remanded until April 10.
The former IGP has been held in remand custody after he surrendered to the Matara Magistrates court on 19th March 2025.
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President appoints committee to submit recommendations to the Government on the new US tariff system

President Anura Kumara Disanayake appointed a committee to conduct an in-depth study on potential issues that may arise due to the new reciprocal tariff system introduced by US President Donald Trump and to submit recommendations to the government.
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Additionally, Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulugamuwa, Chief Economic Policy Advisor to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Shiran Fernando, as well as Ashroff Omar, Sherad Amalean and Saif Jafferjee have also been appointed to the committee.
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