No weapons on organising committee request – Deputy Speaker

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said yesterday 33 UNP Parliamentarians have been prohibited from taking weapons with their security officers to the UNP Party Convention premises by the members’ security division on a request by the UNP Party Convention Organising Committee.

He made this observation in response to a point of order raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Weerakkody said the security of several UNP MPs have been removed only for today.

He said two police officers have been assigned for each MP with firearms, but they have been informed that the police officers would not be allowed to use the weapons today.

The Deputy Speaker said it was a threat to the security of the parliamentarians.

At this stage, UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana said there are 41 UNP MPs and asked as to why weapons of 33 MPs were prohibited.

MPs Sajith Premadasa, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Ranjith Maddume Bandara, Rosy Senanayake, Ruwan Wijewardena, Harin Fernando and Chandrani Bandara also said their security had been removed. The Deputy Speaker said the matter will be directed to the Speaker.

Weerakkody later said the weapons of the security officers of those MPs are not allowed only at the UNP Party Convention premises on December 1.

He said the decision was reached by the members’ security division on a request by the UNP Party Convention Organising Committee.

The Deputy Speaker said the MPs can accompany their security officers with their weapons anywhere other than the U NP Party Convention premises.