‘Don’t allow Bathiudeen to attend Parliament until probes are completed’

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara yesterday requested the Speaker not to allow MP Rishad Bathiudeen, who was detained under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), to attend Parliament until the investigations against him were completed.  

He told Parliament that any MP who was detained under PTA should not be allowed to attend Parliament sittings until the investigations against them are completed.  

The Minister said if MP Bathiudeen made any statement in Parliament concerning the ongoing investigations using parliamentary privileges, it may hinder the investigations and allow others, who would have to be arrested in the future based on the investigations, to flee the country or be prepared to evade arrest.