20 December 2011 04:48 am
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today in Parliament asked the government to conduct an independent inquiry into the incidents in and around the building of the party headquarters, Sirikotha on Monday.
Making a special statement, Mr. Wickremesinghe begged pardon from the party and the people in this regard.
“I assured Parliament earlier that there would not be any change of the opposition leader post. I can reassure it today,” he said amid applause by the government members including Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
However, he said though he was able to retain his position as the opposition leader, his vehicle was damaged in the commotion created by some protestors.
“In this regard, we have lodged a complaint with the police. Some persons have been arrested. I ask for an impartial inquiry. I want such inquires to be conducted without any interference. I regret the incident. I beg pardon from the party and the people of this country because I could not take steps to prevent such disturbances,” he said. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)