UPROAR IN HOUSE OVER ASSASSINATION PLOT

“The security of Namal Kumara has been removed”

MAHINDANANDA

“Transferring of DIG Nalaka de Silva to the IT department was a threat” SHEHAN

“CID has launched an investigation into the incident”

MADDUMA BANDARA

If the President was assassinated, the PM would function as the acting President DINESH

Parliament erupted in heated arguments yesterday over the alleged plot revealed by anti-corruption movement leader Namal Kumara to kill President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The activist, Namal Kumara, a director of the ‘Dhushana Virodi Peramuna’ promises to expose the top police officer at the start of the media briefing and played some of the recordings of their phone conversations. Sep. 13, 2018: The Inspector General of Police ordered the SIU to commence an immediate probe into allegations levelled against the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) DIG Nalaka De Silva. Sep. 14, 2018: IGP Pujith Jayasundara handed over the investigations to the CID over the allegations levelled against the DIG in charge of the TID Nalaka De Silva. Sep 15, 2018: The President said that investigations into the allegation against DIG Nalaka De Silva, for planning to assassinate him and Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be handed over to the CID.

The security of Namal Kumara has been removed and it was reported there was a plot to send him overseas

Joint Opposition leader Dinesh Gunawardane asked in parliament about the progress of the investigation carried out into the incident. MP Gunawardane said if the President was assassinated, the Prime Minister would function as the acting President until a new President was elected.

“It was a serious matter.this conspiracy should be thoroughly investigated and all those involved should be brought to book,” he said.

Leader of the house Lakshman Kiriella, who stood up, said questioning by the JO regarding the matter was a hindrance to the investigations.

“The JO is trying to sabotage the investigation by bringing up this matter in parliament. I am a Lawyer. It is obvious how this matter was raised by MP Gunawardane”, he said.

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said CID had launched an investigation into the incident and added that Namal Kumara had been

questioned by the CID for 10 hours. “His mobile phone which was said to have contained the alleged audio and video recordings had been taken into the custody of the CID.THE unedited video and audio recordings had been requested for, from the media institutions,”he said.the Minister said TID’S DIG Nalaka De Silva had been transferred to the IT Department of the Police on a request made by the CID.

JO MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said, the security of Namal Kumara has been removed and that it was reported

there was a plot to send him overseas and requested the Law and Order Minister to provide him with police security.

JO MP Shehan Semasinghe said the transferring of DIG Nalaka Silva to the IT department was a threat to the investigations.

JO MP Sisira Jayakody alleged that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was silent over the matter for which the Premier responded saying that he and the President had ordered for an investigation into the incident.