Debate on curtailment of Rajapaksa’s security leads to much discussion
Parliamentarian Sandith Samarasinghe, who sustained injuries during the altercation which broke out in Parliament on Tuesday, is receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. The altercation erupted when the debate on the curtailment of the security of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was taken up today.
Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he has to protect former president Rajapaksa as the Security Council and the Cabinet took a decision to provide security for everyone.
Explaining further, he noted that if he wants he can select anyone from the police force and even increase the number of personnel he needs. The minister is also ready to provide him with both the Police and the STF. All of them, including the President and himself are protected by the police and STF. If the Party leaders in this house want to meet and discuss his security he is ready to talk about it.
He added that when they questioned about the security that should be given to Sarath Fonseka back then, what was given? He contributed to end the war as well? Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who lost an eye in a bomb explosion is also being provided with security.
Minister of Regional Development, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka stated that when former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was given a security detail of 60 personnel, Mahinda Rajapaksa reduced that number to 30 after, speaking with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Therefore, after carrying such unethical acts, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the parliamentarian has no right whatsoever to talk about his security only. He should be able to obtain police security and be grateful about it, said the minister.
Explaining further, he stated that the decision whether to deploy the police or not for a politician’s rights, lies with the government as it is not ethical to request for additional security for the sake that he is the ruler who ended the war.
He added that when he went into retirement he was provided with just 20 army personnel who were just ordinary soldiers. During the presidential election when the Elections Commissioner ordered for security, the Commander in Chief did not approve it. So, today when the Commander in Chief does not approve the security of parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa, they do not have the right to make such requests.
He went on to note that to date, he is provided with a security of just 15 police officers. So, if am Army Commander who won the war can be provided with a security of just 15 police officers there is no reason why a president during the time of the war, who is now a parliamentarian, should have a security detail of 200 police officers.
Views were also expressed on Opposition Leader of the North Central Province Major General Janaka Perera who was killed in a suicide bomb attack.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka stated that it was Gotabaya Rajapaksa who ordered Sarath Silva as to how many personnel is required and he answered – six police officers would be sufficient, which lead to the death of Janaka Perera.
Therefore, the former president and former defence secretary should take complete responsibility for his death. Suspicions have also arisen over the bomb attack on the Defence Secretary as terrorists would never launch a bomb attack at a range of 25 metres, since they are not stupid enough to launch a bomb at a bulletproof car. According to intelligence units, even during the war there was no threat to Mahinda Rajapaksa’slife.
Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka also expressed views on Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando.
The only threat to MP Mahinda Rajapaksa was MP Johnston Fernando. He brought a terrorist along with him who tried to assasinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa as there no is point in the security officer speaking instead of the Prime Minister Speaker.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka also noted that if Mahinda Rajapaksa is expecting security as a retired president he should act like one, without behaving like a parliamentarian. If he does politics as an MP he should only be provided with the security of an MP. People act like monkeys they should not behave like a group of animals.
A tense situation broke out in Parliament after Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s statement.
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