Over 20 Opposition MPs Seek Pistols For Personal Security

COLOMBO (News 1st); More than 20 Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have submitted letters to the Secretary-General of Parliament requesting for pistols. 

This comes against the backdrop of a request made by the Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, and a group of Opposition MPs to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) through the Speaker, asking that security be provided to all Opposition MPs.

A special discussion regarding this matter was held yesterday at the Parliament complex, chaired by the Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya.

During the discussion, the Opposition MPs stated that all Opposition MPs should first be provided with security to carry out their political activities in a safe environment without hindrance.

They also requested that further action be taken after obtaining an assessment report on the threats.

The Speaker stated that the IGP has already been informed to take the necessary steps regarding all requests for security made by the MPs.

The Speaker pointed out that although the government had taken a policy decision regarding the security of MPs, he had gone beyond that to act on the relevant requests, and accordingly, steps have already been taken to provide security to some MPs.

Following this, the Speaker and the IGP decided to call for intelligence reports and general threat assessment reports regarding the Opposition MPs who have requested security.

Based on the information revealed by the relevant reports, steps will be taken to provide security to those MPs if a need arises.