Parliamentarians of both government and opposition engaged in a heated debate today over a group of motorcyclists confronting Police and protestors during a demonstration in Battaramulla yesterday.
Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara said the country is heading in the wrong direction at present, and the government must take steps to address it immediately.
He said random groups cannot be allowed to carry weapons and threaten people on roads.
MP Nanayakkara said the on-going incidents, if go unaddressed could lead to major violence. He said the country faced similar violence in 1987 and 1988 after groups decided to take up arms.
MP Manusha Nanayakkara said this could change the country’s path altogether and therefore requested the government to make a statement on groups roaming across the country with weapons.
Meanwhile, Parliamentarian Sarath Fonseka said he was also concerned about yesterday’s incident that saw Police officers confronting a group of Army personnel in uniform.
He said he does not approve of Army personnel entering such an area carrying weapons.
He said an independent investigation should be carried out pertaining to the incident.
MP Sarath Fonseka also said he cannot remain silent when Police officers are seen attacking Army personnel in uniform.
He said he strongly condemns such actions. MP Sarath Fonseka called on the Inspector General of Police and the Army Commander to conduct investigations into the incident and take disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, an incident where an individual wearing a helmet entered the vehicle of the leader of the National People’s Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a subsequent exchange between him and a protester.
NPP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath accused government MPs of misinterpreting the incident.
He said MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake was accompanied by a party member but Minister Johnston Fernando deliberately misled the house.
He said while leaving the Parliament premises MP Dissanayake was also confronted by a group and he faced them fearlessly.
Clarifying the events, Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he was accompanied by an individual who was providing security for him voluntarily. He added he never called on protestors to resort to violence as claimed by government MPs.
