SLPP MP alleges threats from Defence Secretary and Army Chief

Galle District SLPP dissident MP Chandima Weerakkodi told Parliament on Friday that he had been threatened by the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander on Thursday (5) inside parliamentary premises after his speech on the abuse of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the army.

Raising a privilege issue, the MP said: “The Secretary of Defense and the Commander of the Army gave threatening responses before the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security regarding a statement I made about the use of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the army. The Defence Secretary behaved like a bully in the committee and in the parliament.

“I asked him whether he was threatening me and he said yes. The Defence Secretary of the Army Commander continued to threaten me. This incident violated my MP privileges.

The fact that the army should be reduced in this country was discussed in the parliamentary committee. I said there that instead of reducing the number of soldiers, the unnecessary waste of the higher officials should be cut. Even ministers do not waste unnecessarily now. We give that respect.

“But I am talking about the activities of the army officers including the Defence Secretary. We know the situation our country is in. People have no food. People have no way to live. Many people who have retired from the army do not get their pension. But it is surprising to see the way the army commander is the defense secretary. As I speak here, a sum of Rs 80 million are spent to build the garden at the official residence of the Army Commander.

We should put an end to this waste. The Defense Secretary is on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority. Before he goes there, a group of fifteen people from security forces has to come and check the premises. When I spoke against these wastes, I was threatened inside the Parliament premises.

Anyone who goes to the Independence Square for exercises in the morning can see the Secretary of Defence too come for his morning walk. Two soldiers lead him with sniffing dogs. After the Defence secretary goes a jeep followed by another vehicle. Whose money are they wasting in this manner? People blame only the 225 MPs here. The Defence Secretary once visited the Baddegama temple recently. Before his arrival around 100 security force members came to the temple and checked the premises. It is we who vote for allocating defence expenses and now we see that those funds are wasted. This is one reason why this country went bankrupt.

We have an utmost respect for the war heroes who saved our nation from terrorism. But there are some corrupt officers who ruin their reputation. What is the predicament of a normal person if an MP is being threatened by these bullies inside parliament?

JVP led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the matter raised by MP Weerakkody was very serious and asked the Chair to scrutinize the video footage of the CCTV camera in the area where the MP was allegedly threatened.Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse said the matter would be referred to the Privileges Committee.