No military backing for Aava: Ruwan

Ruwan Wijeyawardena

There is no military backing for the ‘Aava ‘ group in Jaffna, but investigations are on to find out whether those who left the Army have joined it, State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardena said in Parliament yesterday.

He was responding to a question by Chief Opposition Whip and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake under Standing Order 23 (2).

The state minister said one of the three persons arrested for their alleged involvement with ‘Aava’ was an Army deserter.

“It is clear that the Aava group is a motorcycle gang operating in the North. The group is harassing the people and involved in extortion. The Army does not want to maintain such a group. However, the statement of Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne is also not wrong as a former Army personnel who left the Army had worked with this group. We are now investigating to find out whether those who left the army have been working with this group,” he said.

(Source: Daily News)