Tamil lawmakers launched an impromptu protest during a parliamentary session in Colombo earlier today, calling on the Speaker to summon the Inspector General of Police and seek redress over the arrest of eight Tamil devotees who were attempting to pray at Vedukkunaari earlier this month.
The parliamentarians brought out placards as proceedings came to a standstill. MP Charles Nirmalanathan said “police have filed fabricated charges against these individuals”.
“We want all eight of them released,” he demanded.
The leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa also joined the Tamil lawmakers and raised his concerns over the illegal arrests.
“We are raising a serious matter,” shouted Premadasa. “Representatives of the North are here to make a statement. The right to religion is a fundamental right. The freedom to practice the religion is the same be it for the South or the North.”
SLPP MP Prasanna Ranatunga retorted by stating that “the opposition leader is coming here to put on a show”. Premadasa is a staunch Sinhala Buddhist nationalism, who has previously vowed there would be “no room for separatism” and pledged to boost Sri Lanka’s defence spending. His party has seen a raft of senior military officials, including those accused of war crimes, joining in recent months.
Amidst the commotion, the speaker responded to the MPs by telling them he would take relevant action.
The Speaker responded, "I’ve already given a response, that we will look into the matter. What more can I say? I cannot help it if you could hear what I said. A lot of people are here to put on a show.”
