Sumanthiran sees increased threat to his life and holds govt. responsible

By Dinasena Ratugamage

The government had not only reduced the security given to him, but also released suspects arrested in connection with threats to his life, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran said Wednesday night.

Speaking to journalists, the TNA MP said that the government should take the responsibility if something happened to him.

“Because of the threats I faced as a MP and because there was a plot to kill me, I was given STF security. Minister Sarath Weerasekera removed my STF guard because I took part in a political rally calling for the rights of the Tamil people,” MP Sumanthiran said.

The TNA MP added that soon after his STF guard was removed, the court had released all 11 men who had been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to kill him.

“These suspects are free now. The threat to my life has not gone away. The government must understand that these 11 men pose a great threat to my life,” he said.

Sumanthiran, PC said that the Attorney General had released 11 suspects saying that there was no evidence to file cases against them. Four suspects remained in remand prison, and soon they too would be released, the TNA MP said.

“Don’t they understand that these people had guns. They were not antique gun collectors. These people were most probably carrying out the agenda of another party. I have made many requests for the restoration of the STF guard. The government has not responded to any of them, but they are releasing those who pose a threat to my life,” he said.

Minister of Public Security, Sarath Weerasekera, In February, said that he had removed the STF guard given to TNA parliamentarian because the latter had taken part in a protest ignoring court and police orders. “He took part in a rally with a large crowd. If he had a threat, he wouldn’t be out in the open like that. He also took part in this rally that was banned by court and by the police. How can we send STF to guard him when he is taking part in illegal events?”

However, the TNA MP still had the police guard, the Minister said.