General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara says Parliamentarian Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda made statement mentioning him and quoting an old State Intelligence Service statement.
MP Madduma Bandara speaking in Parliament acknowledged receiving a SIS report on the 19th of May 2018 during his tenure as the Minister of Law and Order.
The Parliamentarian said as the subject Minister he held a discussion with the Directors of the Criminal Investigation Department and the Terrorism Investigation Division and reached a decision to arrest the individual named Zahran Hashim adding a warrant for the arrest was obtained on the 2nd of July 2018 from the Batticaloa Court.
He said however he was removed from his portfolio during the 2018 coup.
MP Madduma Bandara said the Director of the SIS did not submit any further reports from the 7th of June 2018 till the 25th of October 2018 adding he only received four reports while the Inspector General of Police received 12 reports.
He said he was only aware of the reports when he appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter attacks to testify.
The MP questioned why the SIS Director concealed the reports from the subject Minister adding the Director has now become a witness of the state.
MP Madduma Bandara requested a debate on the matter and urged the government to not pin the blame on the opposition.
MP Madduma Bandara said he testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry adding however the Commission named the wrong person as the perpetrators.
The Parliamentarian said the government is laying blame on others and urged them to withdraw the statement.
Responding State Minister Nimal Lanza said the government was ready to hold a debate as requested adding they are willing to comment on the shortcomings of the good governance government and on the findings of the report of the PCoI.
MP Madduma Bandara said they only received four chapters of the PCoI report and requested the remaining 22 chapters to be tabled in Parliament.
