Arrest those who video recorded MPs’ visit to Colombo port: State Minister

11 January 2024 04:01 pm Views - 4851

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, Jan 11 (Daily Mirror) - An immediate investigation should be launched into the Ports Authority Trade Union members who unlawfully video-recorded the inspection visit by a group of MPs to the Colombo Port and they must be taken into CID custody, State Minister of Ports and Aviation Premalal Jayasekera said.

He told Parliament that a group of 20 MPs were taken on an inspection tour to the Colombo port following a request by some of the MPs during the budget debate that they needed to visit the East and West Jetty of the Colombo port and witness why the work on West jetty is delayed.

"It is my duty as the State Minister to listen to their requests. Certain media and politicians are spreading rumours about the visit claiming that we had a party. Action must be taken against them. Certain Trade Unions members had unlawfully video recorded the visit. AN Investigation must be launched into the incident and they must be taken into CID custody," he said.

The Minister said not a cent of the Ports Authority was spent for the visit and that he was tabling all the bills of the expenses made for the event.

He said this in response to an allegation by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that a group of MPs had a party on two dredgers at a cost of public money when the country is bankrupt.