News
Opp. Leader protests against arrest of MP Gajendrakumar on his way to Parliament
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the arrest of Jaffna District MP Ponnambalam was illegal. Arresting an MP on his way to attend Parliament was against the law, Premadasa said.
“We have differences with the ideology and standpoints of MP Ponnambalam but he is entitled to be treated as any other MP in this House. He was taken into police custody today while he was on his way to attend Parliament. That is illegal as per the law. We urge the government to respect the law. This is an illegal arrest,” Premadasa said.
The Opposition Leader said that he would not go into the details of the cause or the incident that prompted the arrest of the MP. “But we must understand that he is an MP entitled to privileges. We as MPs have a right to talk about when the privileges of a fellow MP are violated. As far as I know MP Ponnambalam contacted the Speaker and said that he would go to the police station after attending the parliament session. However, he was taken into custody. It is illegal to arrest an MP who is on his way to Parliament. Implement the law to the letter and we call on the Speaker to protect the rights of MPs,” Premadasa said.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said MP Ponnambalam was a law-abiding MP. “He has engaged in peaceful protests against the government. He did not even avail himself of the police protection. He is entitled for police protection, Ponnambalam did not obtain police protection. Ponnambalam goes anywhere only with his driver. He was taken into custody while he was coming to parliament. That is against the law,” Kiriella said.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that he had no powers to interfere in police matters. He said that he had been informed by the police top brass that they would arrest Ponnambalam yet he did not have powers to stop them. “Police higher-ups called me and said that they would report the matter pertaining to the courts and would obtain the court’s permission to arrest him. I understand that Ponnambalam has a right not to be arrested while on his way to parliament. Ponnambalam and a DIG of police too called me in this regard. The police said that they would present Ponnambalam before Kilinochchi Magistrate and then allow his attendance in parliament. That was their duty plan. I cannot interfere in that matter. It is the duty of the police to produce the MP before the courts.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said that there was a precedent and guidelines set by former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to police on how to arrest an MP. He referred to the Hansard records of March 3, 2015 and said that the former Speaker Rajapaksa had laid down the procedure that should be followed when an MP is arrested by the police and asked the incumbent Speaker to adhere to that.
Close on the heels of the Ramboda, Kotmale, accident that claimed the lives of 22 passengers on May 11, in a second bus mishap 29 persons were injured at Kulugammana, Kurundugahamada, in the Aladeniya area, on Monday night.
Police said the bus had been on its way to Kurunegala when it veered off the road and crashed. All 30 passengers were injured and admitted to hospital.
Police said that the group had been engaged in Vesak sightseeing.
Meanwhile, initial investigations into the Kotmale accident have revealed that the cause of the fatal accident was not a technical or mechanical faul.
Police Headquarters has appointed a five-member team of police officers, headed by senior DIG Ajith Rohana, to inquire into the Kotmale tragedy.
Official sources said that at the time of the accident, the bus had been overloaded and that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel due to fatigue.
A 70-year-old retired Police Inspector has been arrested over an alleged attempt to kill a young female Algerian tourist near Rawana Ella.
Police apprehended the suspect in Nuwara Eliya yesterday (13). A senior police officer told The Island that the suspect had stolen the victim’s valuables, worth over Rs 800,000, after drugging her, and then pushed her off a precipice near Rawana Ella.
The 26-year-old tourist arrived in Sri Lanka on May 07 and visited Kandy and then travelled to Nuwara Eliya, where she booked a van, online, to travel from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
The tourist has told police that she lost consciousness after she had a fruit drink offered by the driver while they were on their way to Ella.
Initial inquiries have revealed that the suspect had driven to deserted area near Rawana Ella, carried the unconscious woman out of the vehicle and pushed her down a 30-foot precipice before fleeing with her belongings.
The victim regained consciousness and managed to walk several kilometre to the Ella Police Station, where she filed a complaint. She was admitted to the Badulla Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Having swiftly established the identity of the suspect, after receiving the complaint, Ella Police arrested the suspect and took his van into custody, along with two mobile phones valued at approximately Rs. 500,000, which were allegedly stolen from the victim. The suspect is a resident of Magasthota.
By Norman Palihawadana
The 2025 Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zone, jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Office, was ceremonially inaugurated on May 12 by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
During the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister shared the following thoughts:
“The Buddha Rashmi Vesak Festival, held with the collective effort of all communities residing in the city of Colombo, is truly special. The religious harmony that exists within Colombo plays a significant role in making this event successful. Thanks to this harmony, we witness a large number of Dansals and Vesak festivities. These Dansals are organized through the collective efforts of people across the city, who contribute both financially and physically to make them possible.
The efforts made by the Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple, Venerable Kirinde Assaji Thero, to nurture Sri Lankan Buddhist enlightenment, Buddhist culture, and national identity not only among local Buddhists community but also to foreign Buddhists community and international visitors, must be sincerely appreciated.
At this moment, I also remember with deep sorrow those who lost their lives in yesterday’s tragic bus accident in the Kotmale area, and I extend heartfelt sympathies to their families. I also wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured.”
The event was attended by Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Santosh Jha and other High Commissioners and Ambassadors including Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri and a distinguished gathering of guests.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
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