Over 200 Sri Lankan MPs to be given two shotguns each

by admin
Sep 11, 2024

Ahead of the upcoming presidential election, more than 200 of Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians have been armed with two repeater shotguns each, issued by the Defence Ministry.

This decision follows supposed concerns for personal safety raised by the parliamentarians themselves after the 2022 Aragalaya protests, during which several MPs' homes in the Sinhala south were set on fire. According to reports, ten MPs have yet to receive their firearms, which they had requested months ago.

Repeater shotguns, capable of firing multiple rounds before reloading, have been issued to replace the previously distributed Chinese-made pistols, many of which are now malfunctioning. Each shotgun holds up to ten cartridges, offering increased security for lawmakers. The Defence Ministry has specified that the MPs are allowed to retain them even after leaving office, raising obvious security concerns. 

The holding of firearms by Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians has a troubled history. State Minister Lohan Ratwatte came under fire for threatening eight Tamil prisoners detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and holding them at gunpoint. Ratwatte, under the influence of alcohol, allegedly stormed Anuradhapura prison, forcing the prisoners to kneel at gunpoint and verbally abusing them in Sinhala. He claimed to have the authority, granted by the President, to either release or execute them under the PTA. The law, which has long been criticized for enabling arbitrary detention and abuse, remains a powerful tool for suppressing dissent and silencing political opposition.

Sri Lanka's enduring legacy of war and its corrupt political system have fostered an environment where impunity thrives. Earlier this year, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles recently encouraged police to engage in extrajudicial killings, claiming that “eliminating criminals from the country is not a sin,” further fuelling a culture of impunity. This statement highlights the broader issue of unchecked state violence, which has persisted long after the end of the country’s armed conflict. 

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The protest has now entered its 100th day, with Tamil asylum seekers and their supporters continuing their relentless demand for permanent protection. For 38 days, they camped outside Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke’s office in Sydney, calling on the government to end the visa limbo that has left many without basic rights and stability. Tamil asylum seekers have been in Australia for over a decade, living on short-term visas that must be renewed regularly. Without permanent residency, they are excluded from Medicare—Australia’s universal health insurance scheme—and are denied the right to work, study, travel, or access essential services. Many are also required to report to visa offices weekly.

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Amaran - Problematic propaganda

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The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

 

 

 

The patriotic military films of Tamil cinema had taken a back seat for a while. The subject matter is now seldom a prominent theme of a film, instead lurking in the shadows peeking through such as via the heroes in the works of Nelson Dilipkumar. The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

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Krishna's rating: 2.5 stars

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Official trailer for film below.

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un_spcial

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Read more here

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