Speaker promises to push police over MP’s killing

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday (12) said that he would soon ask the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of MP Amarakeerthi Atukorake on Monday (09) during countrywide public protests against unprovoked attacks on those who had been demanding the resignation of the government.

Speaker Abeywardena said so when The Island sought an explanation regarding the inordinate delay in the Parliament taking up the incident.

Apparent political vigilantes killed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)

Polonnaruwa District lawmaker Atukorake and his police bodyguard, Sergeant. Initially, the bodyguard was identified as a private security man.

Speaker Abeywardena said that law enforcement authorities should give priority to killings, including that of the MP.

Galle District MP Abeywardena said that he was also seriously concerned about the spate of attacks on the houses and various properties of members of Parliament.

Civil society activist Manjula Gajanayaka acknowledged that political parties and civil society as well as foreign groups had been largely silent on the MP’s killing.

Slain MP Atukorake was on his way home from Temple Trees following a meeting addressed by the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gajanayaka said that SLPP politicians at every level had been under tremendous pressure to attend the event. Obviously, they did not have a choice, Gajanayske, who recently arranged a meeting between the Election Commission (EC) Chairman Nimal Punchihewa and a group of representatives of the Galle Face protesters told The Island.

Retired General Chagie Gallage said that the MP’s killing was an intolerable and inhuman act. The same applied to other killings subsequent to violence caused by orders allegedly given at Temple Trees meeting to attack those laying siege there and demanding a change of government. Nevertheless, this, and rest of the abuses had been caused by what the celebrated soldier called a deliberate provoking of the peaceful protesters by then PM Rajapsksa and his hooligans.

“The clowns who went on stage at Temple Trees should be put behind the bars before proceeding with any future investigation,” one-time head of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s security stressed.

The Island also sought EC Chairman Punchihewa’s views on the killing of MP Atukorake as talks continued among various stakeholders to reach consensus on a viable political settlement. The civil society activist said that he didn’t see any difference between violence directed at people during 1983 riots and the MP’s killing. Video footage of MP Atukorake body displayed on a Nuttambuwa street along with that of his police bodyguard was quite a shock, Punchihewa said, urging political parties to take tangible measures to address the issues at hand. Whatever the circumstances the first time entrant ended up at a Nittambuwa road block put up by vigilantes, extra judicial killings could not be justified, Punchihewa said.

A senior SLPP official said that the party expected the police to arrest those responsible for MP Atukorale’s killing. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official emphasised the responsibility on the part of the police to ensure the safety and security of lawmakers.

Since the eradication of the JVP in 1990 and the LTTE in 2009, there hadn’t been any killings of lawmakers until last Monday.