Forces, police strengthened by President

Irangika RANGE and Sandasen MARASINGHE

Deputy Agriculture Minister Jagath Pushpakumara yesterday stated that the Armed Forces and the police could perform their duty properly only after President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected to office. The Deputy Minister made this observation joining the debate on private members motion that said all weapons should be registered moved by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. The motion also said after the registration if anyone is found with unlicensed weapons he should be charged with breach of criminal law and a mandatory imprisonment of 20 years be enforced.

Ravi Karunanayake: All weapons should be registered. If measures were taken to prevent using unlicensed weapons another upcoming of terrorism could be stopped.

UNP MP Sri Ranga: The Armed Forces and police could bear weapons. Except those who obtained licensed weapons the others should not use weapons.

Janaka Priyantha Bandara (UPFA): My father was killed during the 88-89 period. Who unarmed the LTTE? When President Mahinda Rajapaksa unarmed the LTTE opposition asks to unarm those who bear illegal weapons.

Palitha Thewarakperuma (UNP): I am in remand prison for six months.

Rohana Pushpakumara (UPFA): The JVP and the UNP are responsible for the smuggling of illegal weapons.

Hasan Ali (UNP): Members in both Government and opposition should support this motion. It is not fit to use illegal weapons in a democratic country.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Jagath Pushpakumara: This a very important motion but we have to consider the objective of those who move this motion. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who ended LTTE terrorism that used illegal weapons.

Today the opposition is talking of arrests but T.B. Ekanayake was arrested before his wedding day without any reason. Only after President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election the armed forces and police perform their duties. More important is to work together to solve these problem not to criticise each other.

M. Alandin (UPFA): All who bear unlicensed weapons should be unarmed.

A.H.M. Azhwer (UPFA): According to the law people cannot bear weapons. But weapons have been issued to people through Gramasevakas to get rid of the wild elephant menace.

Vijayakala Maheshwaran (UNP): Still the culprits of T. Maheshwaran’s murder have not been brought before the Law. No body should be allowed to use illegal weapons.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): Politicians should not be allowed to use weapons. MPs don’t need weapons.