No prior notice on President’s security arrangements - Leader of the House

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

KOTTE: Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said the conduct of UNP MPs in Parliament has created doubts whether the UNP has a conspiracy to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

President Rajapaksa unveiled a portrait of late first Executive President of Sri Lanka J.R. Jayewardene in the Parliamentary Complex yesterday.

“We earlier informed the President not to attend the function scheduled to be held in Parliament today,” he said. “We don’t know where these Tigers are. We also don’t know where the Sinhala Tigers are living. Sometimes these Sinhala Tigers may be in Parliament too.”

He said any prior notice cannot be given on the President’s security arrangements. “We can’t announce it in advance. However the UNP spoke in this House underestimating the President’s security.”

The Minister said it was decided at the Party Leaders’ meeting to invite the President for this function. “If the Security Forces have taken any security measures to protect the President, we should respect them. We should protect the country’s leader.”

Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said if prior notice is given on President’s security arrangements, such information can be passed on to various elements.

Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara said the same procedure followed during the regime of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been followed. The country’s security situation is changed from time to time. Accordingly, steps should be taken to ensure the President’s security. Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said the Leader of the House made a serious allegation that the UNP has a conspiracy to assassinate the President. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said this issue is a question of what had happened to Parliamentary procedure. When a dignitary comes to Parliament, security should be provided to him. The only question is why we were not informed yesterday on President’s arrival.

This discussion arose due to a Point of Order raised by Ratnapura District UNP MP Mahinda Rathnathilaka on the removal of MPs vehicles from Parliament garages due to security arrangements of the President.