Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has granted permission to Opposition Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who is in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to attend Parliamentary sittings due to be held on May 4 and 5. The Speaker has agreed to a request by the Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella who had requested the Speaker to permit MP Bathiudeen to attend Parliament.
On the instructions of the Speaker, Sergeant-at-Arms of Parliament Narendra Fernando has informed the Director of the CID in writing to take steps for Wanni District MP Rishad Bathiudeen to attend the Parliament sittings if he has requested. MP Rishad Bathiudeen is currently being detained and questioned by the CID.
As the Parliamentary sittings are scheduled to be held on May 4 and 5 from 10.00 a.m., the Director of the CID has been informed to bring the MP to the Parliament premises by 9.30 a.m.
Sergeant-at-Arms Fernando said that MP Bathiudeen should be brought to Parliament as per the instructions and recommendations given by the health authorities due to the Covid–19 pandemic. MP Bathiudeen and his brother were arrested on April 24 and are detained by the CID.
Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over allegations of aiding and abetting the suicide bombers responsible for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Later, the CID obtained a detention order to detain and interrogate Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen for 90 days.