Minister of Justice Dr. Wijedasa Rajapakse today revealed that information has been received regarding 32 Sri Lankans, belonging to four families, joining the Islamic State (IS) movement in Syria. 

Speaking in Parliament during the budget debate, he said that there will be absolutely no room for religious extremist activities in Sri Lanka starting from today.

The Minister of Justice and Buddhasasana further said that certain websites are publishing false rumours and extremist statements and that the public is being misled by these. 

Rajapakse said that necessary steps will be taken to arrest Sandaruwan Senadeera, the editor of Lanka E News website, which is continuing to publish reports insulting the judiciary, through an Interpol arrest warrant. He will be brought to Sri Lanka to face legal action, the minister said. 

Islamic State (also known as ISIS, or ISIL) currently has control over a significant amount of territory in Syria and Iraq, and has attracted thousands of foreigners to fight in their ranks.

Addressing the 85th INTERPOL General Assembly last week, IGP Pujith Jayasundara said that although Sri Lanka is now free from conventional terrorism, authorities are very much mindful of the threat of its citizens joining foreign terrorist organizations. 

It was recently revealed that a Sri Lankan national was killed in Syria in the year 2015.