Decision to frisk MPs peeves Field Marshal

By Saman Indrajith

Gampaha District SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday demanded to know the reason for the decision to frisk all MPs entering Parliament.

MP Fonseka said there were technical equipment and metal detectors at the MPs’ entrance and they would be sufficient enough to detect hidden weapons, if any. “With modern technology there is no need for security guards to pass their hands over others in search of hidden weapons.

Fonseka said so after the Speaker announced that a decision had been taken to frisk all MPs and asked the MPs to cooperate with the security officers.

MP Fonseka said:”There was a letter on my desk stating that the Speaker had taken a decision at the party leaders meeting that all MPs would be frisked when entered Parliament. I would like to know what warranted this sudden decision. Is there a security threat? If the intelligence units have information that someone is trying to bring a gun or a bomb into Parliament, then we should be notified of it. If there is such information, there is no purpose in hiding it and carrying out these checks.”

Leader of the House Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the decision had been reached by the Speaker of House considering Parliament’s security, and added that he would notify the Speaker of MP Fonseka’s concerns.