16 February 2010 01:33 pm
The security provided to all Members of Parliament (MP) has been withdrawn with effect from today on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya, Police spokesman S.P Preshantha Jayakody told Daily Mirror online.
He said the withdrawal follows the recent dissolution of Parliament after which all MPs become ordinary citizens. The police spokesman however added that the security for Ministers and Junior Ministers will remain. He also said that the security will be restored following the General elections in April to all those elected to Parliament.
Meanwhile General Secretary for the United National Party Tissa Attanayaka told Daily Mirror online that this was a move by the government to intimidate and disarm the opposition candidates running for the General Election and there were no previous precedents for this kind of security withdrawal for MPs.
He added that they hoped to file a Fundamental Rights petition in court as well as have discussions with the Election Commissioner regarding the security removal.