By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Two suspects who were followers of Easter Sunday attack lynchpin Zahran Hashim, have been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in Oluvil for conducting classes propagating extremist ideologies among students who recently sat the GCE O/L exam.  

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the suspects aged 30 and 39 had conducted brainwash sessions in 2018 in the Oluvil area.  

As per the investigations, they had used various video footage and contents of lecturers from various terrorist and radical organizations based in foreign countries, especially those that promote extremism and terrorism, he said.  

“The students have been instructed to follow physical fitness training during the classes. Some students were subjected to physical harassment by these two men when they declined  to attend physical training,” DIG Rohana said.  

The spokesman said the police had traced a few students who were not willing to attend the physical training programme and they would be produced before the judicial medical officer.   
The suspects are to be detained for further interrogation under the provisions of the PTA.