Sri Lanka Expels 200 Islamic Clerics Following Deadly Easter Attacks
Sri Lanka has expelled more than 600 foreign nationals, including approximately 200 Islamic clerics since the Easter suicide bombings at three churches and three luxury hotels that killed 257 people and wounded nearly 500.
The attacks were led by a local Islamic cleric known to have traveled to India where he made contact with jihadis.
Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the clerics had entered the country legally, but amid a security crackdown after the attacks were found to have overstayed their visas, for which fines were imposed and they were expelled from the island. -Daily Mirror
"Considering the current situation in the country, we have reviewed the visas system and took a decision to tighten visa restrictions for religious teachers," said Abeywardena, adding "Out of those who were sent out, about 200 were Islamic preachers."
Police said that many of those expelled include foreigners from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Maldives who have overstayed their visas.
"There are religious institutions which have been getting down foreign preachers for decades," Abeywardena said. "We have no issues with them, but there are some which mushroomed recently. We will pay more attention to them."
Sri Lanka is overhauling the country's visa police in the wake of the attacks, as authorities now fear that foreign clerics might radicalize locals for future attacks. A state of emergency was imposed after the attacks which give wide powers to police and troops in order to arrest and detain suspects for extended periods.
Authorities have been conducting house-to-house searches for explosives and radical Islamic propaganda.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-05-05/sri-lanka-expels-200-islamic-clerics-following-deadly-easter-attacks