Suspect deported from UAE arrested for Extremist Propaganda: Police

COLOMBO (News 1st): A male suspect deported from the United Arab Emirates was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) in Weligama for propagating extremism, Sri Lanka Police said. "Following the 2019 April 21st Attacks, Sri Lanka Police, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) conducted joint investigations in respect of the perpetrators, who were, directly and indirectly, involved in the series of attacks," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Monday (Mar. 22). Accordingly, the 42-year-old suspect was arrested, and Rs. 2.7 million was also recovered from the suspect's possession; he has been brought to the Terrorist Investigation Division in Colombo, the Police Spokesperson noted. The Terrorist Investigation Division also recovered three laptops from the suspect's possession. "The suspect had been residing in the UAE for a prolonged period and collected funds for extremist propaganda in Sri Lanka; he was also involved in spreading various extremist ideologies via social media," the Deputy Police Chief said elaborating on the arrest. According to DIG Ajith Rohana, the UAE authorities were informed about the suspect, upon which they took measures to repatriate the suspect on 12th March 2021. The suspect who is a resident of Kirigandeniya in Mawanella will be interrogated by the TID and further investigations are underway, DIG Ajith Rohana noted.