Opp. Leader protests against arrest of MP Gajendrakumar on his way to Parliament

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the arrest of Jaffna District MP Ponnambalam was illegal. Arresting an MP on his way to attend Parliament was against the law, Premadasa said.

“We have differences with the ideology and standpoints of MP Ponnambalam but he is entitled to be treated as any other MP in this House. He was taken into police custody today while he was on his way to attend Parliament. That is illegal as per the law. We urge the government to respect the law. This is an illegal arrest,” Premadasa said.

The Opposition Leader said that he would not go into the details of the cause or the incident that prompted the arrest of the MP. “But we must understand that he is an MP entitled to privileges. We as MPs have a right to talk about when the privileges of a fellow MP are violated. As far as I know MP Ponnambalam contacted the Speaker and said that he would go to the police station after attending the parliament session. However, he was taken into custody. It is illegal to arrest an MP who is on his way to Parliament. Implement the law to the letter and we call on the Speaker to protect the rights of MPs,” Premadasa said.

Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said MP Ponnambalam was a law-abiding MP. “He has engaged in peaceful protests against the government. He did not even avail himself of the police protection. He is entitled for police protection, Ponnambalam did not obtain police protection. Ponnambalam goes anywhere only with his driver. He was taken into custody while he was coming to parliament. That is against the law,” Kiriella said.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that he had no powers to interfere in police matters. He said that he had been informed by the police top brass that they would arrest Ponnambalam yet he did not have powers to stop them. “Police higher-ups called me and said that they would report the matter pertaining to the courts and would obtain the court’s permission to arrest him. I understand that Ponnambalam has a right not to be arrested while on his way to parliament. Ponnambalam and a DIG of police too called me in this regard. The police said that they would present Ponnambalam before Kilinochchi Magistrate and then allow his attendance in parliament. That was their duty plan. I cannot interfere in that matter. It is the duty of the police to produce the MP before the courts.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that there was a precedent and guidelines set by former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to police on how to arrest an MP. He referred to the Hansard records of March 3, 2015 and said that the former Speaker Rajapaksa had laid down the procedure that should be followed when an MP is arrested by the police and asked the incumbent Speaker to adhere to that.