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Don’t let Rishad in, Weerasekera urges Speaker

05 May 2021

  • Claims Bathiudeen’s utterances under privilege could jeopardise Easter probe 

  • No legal impediment for Bathiudeen’s Parliamentary attendance: AG tells CID 

By Dinitha Rathnayake    Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera yesterday (5) requested the Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena not to allow All Ceylon Makkal Congress Leader and Opposition Parliamentarian Rishard Bathiudeen, to attend Parliament until the investigations against him in connection with his alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday terror attacks, are completed.  Weerasekera told the Parliament that any MP who was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) should not be allowed to attend Parliamentary sittings until the investigations against them are completed as otherwise it could become a national safety issue.  Weerasekera claimed that if Bathiudeen makes any statement in Parliament concerning the ongoing investigations using his Parliamentary privileges, it may hinder the investigations and allow others who would have to be arrested in the future based on the investigations, to flee the country or be prepared to evade arrest.  Speaking to the media, Weerasekera claimed further that the reason that Bathiudeen did not attend Parliament on 4 May was due to Covid-19 related safety issues.  However, the Attorney General (AG), President’s Counsel Dappula De Livera announced yesterday that there is no legal impediment to facilitate Bathiudeen to attend Parliamentary sessions. The AG said this in response to a request from the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on the relevant matter.  Previously, the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Parliament Narendra Fernando had informed the Director of the CID in writing to take necessary steps to allow Bathiudeen to attend the Parliament if he made a request. Fernando had informed the CID thus on the instructions of Speaker Abeywardena. Fernando has further informed that Bathiudeen should be brought to Parliament as per the instructions and recommendations given by the health authorities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Police Media Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana earlier said that Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen were arrested by the CID under the PTA for allegedly aiding and abetting and financing the Easter Sunday suicide bombers.

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