Both Joint Opposition and Government lawmakers in Parliament were highly critical of the alleged telephone conversation by DIG Nalaka de Silva in connection with the assassination plot of President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and demanded swift action.
Making a big hue and cry in the well of the House, the JO members called upon the Government to immediately investigate the issue. Yet another important feature was State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Sriyani Wijewickrama’s calling for the immediate arrest of the DIG and sacking the incumbent IGP to conduct the investigations independently under a new IGP.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe responding to the queries raised by both Government and Opposition law makers told the House that he is happy about JO’s great concern for the safety and well being of the President. However, the Premier hitting back at the vociferous JO members recalled how the former Government in which they were also stakeholders removed the security of President Sirisena when he was contesting as the Common Presidential Candidate.
The Premier also categorically stated that the security forces are committed to provide security to Gotabaya Rajapaksa if there are any threats on his life.
The Premier added that there seems to be a crisis brewing in the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and hinted that in such a situation Gotabaya Rajapaksa may perhaps need security. He also raised the issue of JO’s ulterior motive of gaining political mileage from this matter.
Focusing the attention of the House, JO Parliamentary Group Leader Dinesh Gunawardena said, although the entire country was shocked by the recent revelation of an assassination plot regarding the President and former Defence Secretary and the audio tapes of the plot are also circulated in the media – a patently untrue claim – the security authorities were tardy in conducting investigations.
Refuting the JO’s claim that the investigations into this incident are at a very slow pace, Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the House that the matter was reported to the Fort Magistrate and court orders have been obtained to secure the video and audio records from media organisations of the press conference where the person called Namal Kumara made those allegations. JO front liner Wimal Weerawansa demanded the arrest of the DIG and said they don’t believe these investigations would be conducted in an impartial manner.
Weerawansa further noted Namal Kumara has also stated that there is a link between the Police and the underworld in perpetuating crimes during the recent Sinhala- Muslim riots in Digana. JO heavyweight Dullas Alahapperuma regretted that the Government media does not publish anything about this incident and stressed that this is the worst ever accusation against the Police Department during its 152 year history.
Commenting on the progress of the investigations regarding former State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran’s statement calling for the revival of the LTTE, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he had been informed by the Attorney General that he would initiate legal action against her.
JO MP Wimal Weerawansa drew the attention of the House to the Speaker’s assurance to the Parliament that he would seek the Attorney General’s instructions with regard to the State Minister’s statement which amounted to a violation of the Constitution. MP Weerawansa asked the Speaker what action he would take in this regard since months have elapsed after he gave that undertaking. Responding to MP Weerawansa, the Speaker said the Attorney General has informed him that he would file a case against the State Minister.
Parliamentary sittings of Joint Opposition MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Prasanna Ranaweera were suspended for two weeks and four weeks respectively, with effect from Friday (September 21) for their unparliamentary conduct and breach of Standing Orders. Two motions were brought by the Government against the two JO MPs for their unethical conduct during a Parliamentary debate on July 3 on the controversial statement made by UNP Jaffna District MP Vijayakala Maheswaran calling for the revival of the LTTE.
The motion against MP Weerawansa received 39 votes in favour and 21 against, while the motion against MP Ranaweera received 41 votes in favour and 21 votes against. MP Ranaweera was accused of attempting to grab the Mace, and MP Weerawansa of using unparliamentary language during a protest following the debate on the then State Minister Maheswaran’s statement calling for the revival of LTTE.