The Government today asserted that the Aava group in the North had been influenced by Indian films and not the LTTE.
Responding to a question in Parliament today, Deputy Minister of Law and Order Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said that most members of the Aava group and under the age of 18.
Bandara said that he had visited the North with the Minister of Law and Order recently and looked into the issue involving the Aava group.
He said that most members of the Aava group had been arrested and investigations had revealed that they were influenced by South Indian films.
Nalin Bandara said that the swords used by the Aava group were homemade and a key member of the group had also cried while being questioned by the Police.
The Deputy Minister also said that the Aava group has so far not committed any murders but had only assaulted people and caused injuries to people using their home made swords.
Nalin Bandara insisted that the Aava group was not linked to terrorism and rejected attempts to spread fear in the South using the Aava group.
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette
