Sri Lanka bans two Islamist groups

SANAA, April 28 (YPA) – Sri Lanka has banned the activity of two Islamist groups, after they were suspected of being behind suicide bombings that targeted churches and hotels in the country’s capital Colombo, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

The National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim were banned under his emergency powers, President Maithripala Sirisena said in a statement

The authorities asserted that they have not been able to ban the two groups before, as the law obliges them to provide compelling evidence against any party before their activity is prohibited.

According to local police, the wife and daughter of Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Zahran, who is suspected by the Sri Lankan authorities of being the mastermind of the bombings, were injured during an army raid on Islamist hideouts on Friday evening in Ampara District, after a fierce gun battle.

At the scene of the raid, the army found 15 bodies, including 6 children, 3 suicide bombers, and weapons and explosives.

E.M