Gotabhaya's ministry to act against opposition MPs supporting Tamil diaspora

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 December 2010, 19:12 GMT]
Sri Lankan Defense Ministry headed by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has threatened to launch 'investigations' against 'Sri Lankan' politicians who express solidarity with Tamil diaspora saying that they support 'separatism'. "Action would be taken against them on evidence found," said Lakshman Hulugalla, Director General for the Media Centre for National Security at a hurriedly arranged media briefing held Thursday.

Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya was also present at the briefing.

Balasuriya added that some Sinhala opposition parliamentarians were working to boost Tamil Diaspora in revamping the campaign for separatism. The SL Defense Ministry has been keeping an eye on them, he said.

Several opposition MPs have been visiting Australia and countries in Europe under the 'guise of lecturing' were journeying there to support the Tamil Diaspora and also to work against foreign investments coming into Sri Lanka, he said.

Tension prevailed in Sri Lankan parliament Thursday morning after Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa announced about the cancellation of the address by his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as the executive president of Sri Lanka at Oxford Union.

Pandemonium prevailed in the House when the Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena accused Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, a UNP politician, labelling him a ‘traitor’.

Some ruling party members who rushed to physically attack the opposition parliamentarian alleging him that he instigated protests in London against the Sri Lankan President.

Government members rushed to the seat where Dr. Jayawardene was seated trying to grab his collar. Chief Opposition Whip John Ameratunga interfered saving Jayawardene from the attackers. Thereafter the Speaker suspended the House for about ten minutes. But the house resumed its sitting after about one hour.

Opposition MP Dr. Jayalath Jayewardene later denied the 'allegation' that he was in London when Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived to address Oxford Union. He explained that he was in Milan in Italy on that day and that he left London on November 28.

Jayawardene told parliament that he fears for his safety as he had been manhandled by ruling party members.