Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today that he had instructed the IGP to report on the progress on the investigation conducted by the police on the attack carried out on the protesters in Galle Face and in front of Temple Trees to the Speaker every other day.

“I have spoken to the IGP and inquired about the progress which the police have made on the investigations and on arrests. I told him to report on the progress to the Speaker every other day,” he said.

“I have already condemned the attacks on the protesters,” he added.

“We in Parliament should understand the duty which we need to perform today,” he said amidst shouting by the MPs.

“I have not participated in the government parliamentary group and was not aware of the move to nominate MP Ajith Rajapaksa to the post of Deputy Speaker. I also don’t intend to participate in parliamentary group meetings of any political party, he also said.

He said he had nothing to do with electing the deputy Speaker last time when Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was elected to the post and also on the discussions which were held yesterday and day before.

“It is time all MPs get together to save the nation as the country is facing a grave crisis. I will speak on the crisis in detail in another day, but if Parliament fails to do anything about the crisis at least in a week, I don’t think anyone of us would be able to come to Parliament once again. Therefore I urge the members to come together and appoint the proposed executive council,” he stressed. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)