Chief Govt Whip informs Parliament CID wants to question Harin over contradictory statements

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Government Whip and Minister Johnston Fernando told Parliament on Thursday that the CID wanted to question SJB MP Harin Fernando over some contradictory statements the latter made with regard to the Easter Sunday terror attacks. 

“MP Fernando has made some contradictory statements . For example, we remember that he said soon after the attacks that he had received a warning of imminent attack from his father. But if you go through the report of the presidential commission of investigation, you may find MP Fernando said he had received the warning from his elder sister. There are many such contradictory statements he had made. So, the CID has to question him on them. The allegations of the Opposition Leader, the Chief Opposition Whip and some MPs of the Opposition that the government was harassing the MP with the help of the CID are not true at all. 

“I assure on behalf of the government that none among us has made any requests to arrest any opposition MP. I also assure you that there will be no arrest with regard to this all Fernando has to do is tell the CID is why he made those contradictory statements.”

MPs of both sides were seen threatening each other and hurling verbal abuses.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa informed Parliament that there was an attempt to arrest MP Fernando under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over statements he had made in Parliament. He said that MP Fernando was being investigated for a statement made in Parliament during a debate on the Easter attacks.

MP Indika Anuruddha was seen walking down to the Well shouting at Opposition MPs resulting in the Speaker calling on him multiple times to return to his seat.

General Secretary of the SJB, MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that MP Anuruddha’s actions were a clear threat to the opposition.

MP Madduma Bandara called on the Speaker to assure that opposition MPs will not be penalised for making statements in Parliament.