Speaker to rule on govt. MPs threatening and snatching phones of two journalists

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament yesterday (18) that he would make a ruling on an incident where two SLPP MPs allegedly harassed two journalists inside the Parliament building on Tuesday.

Making an announcement at the commencement of sittings, the Speaker said that an investigation was underway into the incident. After the investigation, the House would be informed of his decision, he said.

Parliamentary correspondents Prageeth Perera of Swarnavahini and Kasun Samaraweera of Sirasa have complained to the Speaker and Welikada police that they were harassed by SLPP MPs. In their complaint they have said that they had used their mobile phones to video record MPs coming out of a committee room after the conclusion of an SLPP group meeting, when MPs Indika Anurudda and D Weerasinghe threatened them and grabbed their phones, which were later handed over to the Speaker.