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Govt. behaving in dictatorial manner to silence MPs critical of it: SJB
View(s):The Samagi Jana Blawegaya (SJB) yesterday claimed the government was intimidating opposition MP’s who are critical of the government.
SJB General secretary Ranjith Madduma Banadara told the Sunday times that the government is behaving in a dictatorial manner as they are using intimidation tactics to keep matters from being raised at the parliament.
He said parliamentary members can make any comment in the chamber of the house as that is a special parliamentary privilege.
However, he said just after SJB member Harin Fernando made strong comments at the parliament he was called to the CID to record a statement.
“No one can arrest or take legal action against speeches and comments made as they are protected under the parliamentary privileges and therefore if they are subjected to investigation over comments made at the parliamentary chamber, we will take legal action,” he said.
He said that though the government claims that Mr. Fernando had been called by the CID to give a statement about his claims about having prior knowledge of the Easter Sunday attacks they are suspicious why MP Fernando was called to the CID to record a statement over a comment made two years back.
Mr Fernando made a comment on Easter Sunday bomb blasts, where he said that his father had heard about the possible attacks and had told his sister.
The SJB said that they have complained to the Speaker regarding the matter and alleged that the government has turned to use intimidating tactics as well as dictatorial rules to suppress those who talk against them.
Meanwhile Mr Fernando told the Sunday Times that he believes that he was summoned to the CID as he made certain revelations in Parliament, though they claim that it was regarding a previous statement he made to the CID.
He said the CID recorded his statement as far back in May 2020 and now claims they wanted to record a further statement. He said that too was a remark soon after the Easter Sunday attack on April 21, 2019.
He said it was wrong to use the CID to bring pressure on MPs, for revelations made in Parliament.