10 February 2021 08:45 pm
Special security provided to TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran was removed as he had participated in a protest violating police orders and a Court Order, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara said today.
He told Parliament that it was ludicrous if someone, who violates Police and Court Orders, is provided special security.
“I am the one who removed MP Sumanthiran’s special security. I had personally informed him that he had threats to his life. If so, he should have avoided going to public gatherings where there were around 2,500 people. He should have been mindful of his security. The STF cannot take the responsibility,” he said.
The Minister said this when opposition members protested against removing MP Sumanthiran’s special security.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said Mr. Sumanthiran was provided with special security based on a threat assessment on his life and pointed out that it was incorrect to remove his security just because he had participated in a protest.
Minister Weerasekara said a few months ago, MP Sumanthiran had participated in a commemoration of a terrorist who had killed STF personnel while the STF were guarding him outside. “I pardoned him for the first time. A legal army cannot provide security to someone who acts illegally by violating Court Orders,” he said.
SJB MP Sarath Fonseka said it was wrong to remove security of Mr. Sumanthiran, who had always stood up against terrorism while terrorist leaders like Karuna Amman and Pillaiyan, who killed army and police personnel, have been provided with security.
Minister Weerasekara said it was only the special security provided to Mr. Sumanthiran that was removed and added that he had been provided with four security personnel provided to a normal MP.
MP Sumanthiran said he had not violated any Court Order and pointed out that even if he had done so, his special security provided based on threat assessment cannot be removed.
“Minister Weerasekara should take the responsibility if something happened to my life,” he said.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)