Heated arguments in Parliament over recent arrests

4 December 2024 03:21 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Parliament, December 04 (Daily Mirror)- Heated arguments erupted in Parliament over a statement by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who said that cases have been filed against recent incidents involving LTTE commemorations under two laws in the North and South.

The MP told Parliament that cases have been filed in the South under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) while cases have been filed in the North under the Penal Code.

The Public Security Minister responded, saying that the Police Department has been given the freedom to act independently without political interferences and it is up to the police to decide under which Acts the cases must be filed after investigations.

"The Police Department has given the freedom to act independently without political interferences. It is upto the police to decide under which Acts the cases must be filed after investigations. It is the duty of the police and not the duty of the Minister," Minister Wijepala said.

MP Jayasekara said police must be advised to seek assistance of the Attorney General's Department before filing cases.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, who responded, said police seek legal assistance only if there are any confusion and if required.

Minister Wijepala said the IGP had informed him that cases have been filed under the PTA both in the North and the South and added that MP Jayasekara had made a statement inciting racism claiming that separate laws had been implemented in the North and the South.

MP Jayasekara, who responded said he had never appeared for racism and said that he only said police must seek the AG Department's advice when filing cases in the North and South as correct decisions needed to be taken with regard to racism.

The MP requested Minister Wijepala to withdraw the statement calling him a racist.

Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake said MP Jayasekara had made racial statements and requested MP Jayasekara to withdraw his statement, adding that the Minister should not withdraw it.

Comments - 6

Daya Wednesday, 04 December 2024 03:32 PM

These guys are still trying to create divisions and talking in parliament without checking the facts. Good response from the minister.

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R Rahman Wednesday, 04 December 2024 04:13 PM

Good reply from the Honorable minister of public security and of law. No more divisions within Sri Lanka.

3 3

Gayan Wednesday, 04 December 2024 05:12 PM

The judge gave a proper ruling. Arrest those who carry out the illegal activity not the ones who report the illegal activity.

1 4

Kail Rajah Wednesday, 04 December 2024 07:39 PM

Chavunism was the mainstay of fickless parliamentarians that hopefully ended when AKD swept into power.

3 1

wickrama Wijayasiri Wednesday, 04 December 2024 07:40 PM

Why should this case be discussed in the parliament? Is there a miscarriage of justice? The opposition is really trying to incite racism. The police caught a thief plucking coconuts from our estate. The thief is a Tamil labourer! Does the Minister has to investigate that case too?

3 1

ACL Wednesday, 04 December 2024 08:42 PM

Why do we have an opposition who ONLY wants to find fault, point fingers unnecessary only because they are writhing in pain from their loss and make every attempt to point out supposed mismanagement on the part of the current Govt who have been operating for barely 2 and half months. If the opposition has nothing CONSTRUCTIVE to say, they should sit down and zip up. This is where so much of the tax payers money is wasted on naysayers and buffoons

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