No moves to withdraw MPs' security

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Ranil Wijayapala and Irangika Ranage

Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday told Parliament that the Government has not taken any move to withdraw or reduce the security provided to MPs.

The Minister was responding to a privilege matter raised by the TNA Group Leader R. Sampanthan on the withdrawal of security provided to three Batticaloa district TNA MPs - Thangeshwari, Ariyanethran and Kanagasabai. Fernandopulle said the Government has not reduced or withdrawn the security provided to any UNP or TNA MP.

The Minister said all Eastern Province TNA MPs are living in Colombo. The Government has not removed any security provided to them in Colombo.

However, the Government cannot provide security to family members or relatives of Parliamentarians.

According to the Minister, TNA MP Kanagasabai is attempting to connect the abduction of his son-in-law by the Pillaiyan group as a matter connected to his security.

"Kanagasabai has said the Pillaiyan Group has threatened and abducted his son-in-law. But the LTTE issued an order to seven TNA MPs who were abroad to immediately return to Sri Lanka and vote against the budget.

This is the real threat. Kanagasabai is living in Colombo. How can he put the blame on the Government on the abduction of his son-in-law by the Pillaiyan Group?

The Minister said the TNA should not point their finger to the Government on such incidents. The Government do not want to prevent any MP coming to Parliament. The Government has 12 majority votes in Parliament.

Raising the privilege matter, Sampathan said the Government has removed the security provided to three Batticaloa district TNA MPs - Kanagasabai, Thangeshwari and Ariyanethran. A Paramilitary Group has abducted Sasikaran the son-in-law of TNA MP Kanagasabai.

Kangasabai has been told that the life of Sasikaran will be dependent on the way that Kanagasabai vote to Appropriation Bill in Parliament today. The Paramilitary Groups have also entered into the houses of TNA MPs - Thangeshwari and Ariyanethran by making the same threat. "This is a serious threat on the conduct of MPs. The TNA has met on two occasions and took a decision on how the TNA should vote on this Appropriation Bill, he said.

Sampathan said following the telephone conversation he had with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President pledged that he would take appropriate action on this incident. He said "This is a serious matter on the privilege of MPs. This may be happen to any MP in future. I request to take appropriate action regarding this incident and safeguard the rights of MPS by allowing them to act freely according to their will.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said a group of Armed Forces personnel have come to the estate of UNP MP Sagala Ratnayake. This is a clear indication of the violation of the rights of MPs.

The MPs are under pressure and deprived of their security. Even the families of parliamentarians are also under threat now. This is a severe decline of the country's democracy.

Wickremesinghe Questioned as to how this incident was taken place. Because the Eastern Province is under Government control.

Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said it is Ranil Wickremesinghe who pledged to offer money to five JHU Buddhist monks with Rs. 30 million to each to cross over to the UNP. He also pledged to give money to three Non-Cabinet Ministers at Rs. 30 million to each.

Wickremasinghe who made such activities is speaking about the democracy today. Who brought Karuna to Colombo and later sent him to Canada? It was done by Alli Shaeer Mowlana who was an MP of former Ranil Wickremesinghe Government.

Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda said if somebody has been abducted, it is the responsibility of the Government to look into it. The LTTE has ordered all TNA MPs to be present in the House today. But there is no connection between this abduction and today's voting. Most of the TNA MPs are living in Colombo. They have come to Parliament today due to death threats to them by the LTTE.

TNA MP M.K. Sivajilingam said it is an utter lie that the LTTE has threatened the TNA MPs. Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara said that he has also laid President's attention on this incident. The President pledged to take action regarding this. Even today the President told me if there is any problem on the security of MPs, he will take appropriate measures regarding it.