All party committee to probe knife incident

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will appoint a committee of MPs drawn from all sides to inquire into the incident in Parliament where MP Palitha Thevarapperuma was seen with what appeared to be a sharp instrument in his hand during the fracas in the House on Thursday.

Parliament officials said the Speaker had called for all the video footage which showed the object in the MPs hand and would study it before referring it to the Committee.

The Committee will be made up of MPs of the UPFA, the UNP and officials said.

“Such matter should be referred to the Privileges Committee but the Committee has not been reconstituted since the new session began after prorogation and hence a special committee will be set up by the Speaker to inquire into the knife incident,” officials said.

Meanwhile, UP FA Gampaha district Parliamentarian Indika Anuruddha said they had lodged a complaint with the Parliament Police. “We have clearly seen in the video he has a knife in his hand. We informed the Speaker about it but he did not act on it so we lodged a complaint with the Police,” he said.

Welikada Police said they have started on an inquiry but did not give details.

Mr. Thevarapperuma meanwhile denied bringing a knife into the Chamber and claimed it was a letter opener that was lying on the Speaker’s table. “I grabbed it as another UPFA MP was reaching for it. I was safeguarding the Speaker and

kept it in my hand. I did not use it against anyone,” he said.

Meanwhile, Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayaka also dismissed opposition claims that he too carried a knife. “I demand them to prove their claim. They are making false allegations in desperation”, he said.

Twelve Policemen were injured in the fracas on Friday, they were treated at the Parliament medical center.

Police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the Police department was unable to initiate action on the matter as it occurred inside the Parliament chambers and involved Parliamentary Privileges.

He said that action would have to be taken in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary officials are estimating the damage caused after some MPs ran amok inside the Chamber on Friday.

The Speaker’s Chair which was dragged down from its position by some UPFA MPs has not been damaged, an official said. The table on which the Mace is kept was toppled by some MPs and the damage is being assessed. The microphone and other items on the Speaker’s table were damaged too while the gavel (hammer) used to call the House to order has been found after it was taken away by some MPs.Also damaged, were some books on the Speaker's table.