Says individual who got into vehicle part of his security detail
Responding to allegations by the Government, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Leader and Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (6) denied accusations that he had instigated protests and orchestrated violence through such protests.A large protest was held outside the Parliament on Tuesday (5), with the protesters being vigilant about the vehicles passing by, as they wanted to question the members of Parliament (MPs). Ada Derana video reports show Dissanayake leaving the Parliament from the Madiwela side on Tuesday where he was met by a small group of protesters. While he was talking to them from his vehicle, the video shows an individual wearing a helmet getting into his vehicle’s backseat.“On 6 April (yesterday), Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando accused me of a lot of things, including being behind the public protests, especially the one outside the Parliament. What happened on 5 April (Tuesday)? Let me explain,” said Dissanayake in the Parliament yesterday.Addressing Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, he said: “First, you told me that the party leaders’ meeting is at 12 noon. Then you told me that it is at 2 p.m. After that, it took place at 2.30 p.m. So, due to some work I had planned at 3 p.m., I left the Parliament, as is my right.”He said that he had first come across some protesters who had questioned him about using a vehicle paid for with public funds.“After that, they asked me to stop the vehicle. Then, I told them that I have been raising awareness about the looting of public funds for the past 15 years. I told them to continue the struggle and to hold the looters accountable. I never told anybody to resort to violence,” he stressed.He admitted that an individual wearing a helmet had gotten into his vehicle at the time.“In broad daylight, editor Lasantha Wickrematunga was murdered. There is still no murderer. Journalist Poddala Jayantha was kidnapped. There is no culprit yet. News editor Keith Noyahar was assaulted. Nobody knows who did it. Ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen was murdered. No one was arrested. All of that happened when incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Defence Secretary. Thus, we have experience with his mind. Who assaulted those people? Who murdered those people? Thus, we have to voluntarily ensure our security. Do you think that we would just go on the road when such a person is in the highest seat in this country? Whenever I go on the road, many comrades of my party ensure my security. We are not stupid enough to put our necks on the line without thinking about our security. I asked a few of my party members to stay outside the Parliament when I left. I won’t let them take my life cheaply. There were a few motorcyclists who were there for my protection, and one of them got into my car. What is the problem with that?,” questioned Dissanayake.
