I have also got death threats: MP Kavinda

By Yohan Perera   

The security concerns of the opposition politicians seemed to becoming more serious with Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kavinda Jayawardene revealing that he has also received death threats over the phone during the recent past.   

Dr. Jayawardene is the second opposition MP to reveal that his life is under threat  “I have received death threats over the phone in the recent past and I have informed the CID about them. The CID then inform me that I should lodge a complaint with the police station where I reside. However, I believe that the CID can conduct a probe on an incident anywhere across the country,” the MP said.   

Asked whether he too would be associated with the underworld like the case of slain Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha and will be called by another name, the MP said it is left for those in the government. We will see what they would be up to. Christening me with name connected to the underworld is up to Anandan Pathmanathan who christened Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman with a name connected to underworld in Parliament,” he said in a lighter vein. 

“However, we are not scared of threats as we are God fearing people,” the MP added.   

Also he said the action by the IGP to connect MP Withane has to be vehemently condemned. “This statement of the IGP is a clear sign of politicizing the police,” he said.   

The MP alleged that security of all MPs have been reduced lately.   

Furthermore, he said those in charge of the CID such as Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekera seemed to be neglecting threats the same way they neglected the prior warnings received on Easter Sunday attacks.