We never told to disrespect or flout the law; Media plaguing misinformation – Azath Salley

The National United Alliance (NUA) Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley said he media is spreading misinformation and giving the public a whole different version of his speeches.

Quoting from Salley’s press conference on 9th March, the media reported that Azath Salley said that they obey Muslim rules only and that they don’t care about the law of the country, sparking controversy both in and out of political arena.

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that a five member police CID team led by an ASP will inquire into the highly controversial statement by the Former Governor Salley.

Addressing the media last Saturday (13), Salley reasoning for the emerged controversy from his press conference on 9th March said,

“Some media had reported a totally different thing from what I said. I’m telling one thing and they are reporting another as Azath Salley said that they do not respect and abide by the law of the country. Some jobless politicians get very excited from the media publicity.

“We have never told to disrespect or not to abide by the law of the country. All the Muslims are taught to follow the Quran, to act according to the Quran and Hadith. It’s not mentioned there to disrespect the law of the country, or to act against it. In our religion, it is taught to respect and live in accordance with the law of the country we live.

“Did Azath Salley say to break all the rules? Or to become extremist? No. They are disappointed that the names they hoped for in the Presidential Commission to probe into Easter Sunday’s report are not mentioned in the final report. They are desperate.

“People of this country have the freedom of speech and right to express and they will continue to have it. Don’t we have the right to talk about these issues? The freedom of speech?” Salley questioned.

Reminding of the existing laws within the country, Azath Salley said,

“There are a lot of ethnicities living in this country. We don’t need to abolish or amend the Thesavalamai, or the Upcountry law or the laws enforcing on temples and Kovils. There is no need to abolish anything if only those in power had plans to get people together and establish reconciliation.

We would also like to remind that all the laws we are abiding today were implemented way before even independence was gained.”

Former Governor Azath Salley claimed that the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara had ordered and advised to demolish the Mosque in Ampara.

“The grudge Sarath Weerasekara holds with me is that I have been telling since this government came to power that I have the recordings of the ex President Maithripala Sirisena saying that current Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara ordered and advised to demolish the Mosque in Ampara. All I have to tell is that this is his chance to arrest Azath Salley as he has been telling since a long time.”

Expressing his view on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena’s extended invitation to the Myanmar’s Minister of External Affairs, Azath Salley said,

“Our Foreign Minister called on the Military Coup Government of Myanmar, trying to secure their vote for Sri Lanka. Do we really have to beg for votes if we have done the right things the right way? If we had done so, nobody would have brought resolutions upon us.”