The main parliamentary opposition party, SJB has stated that there is a serious issue regarding the security of Members of Parliament (MPs), alleging the current Government is ignoring the need to provide adequate protection to MPs.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, SJB General Secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that opposition political parties including the SJB have been demanding that MPs be provided with adequate protection for a long time. "There are no security arrangements for MPs for the first time in our history. There is a serious issue about MPs' security. The Government is continuously ignoring the need to provide security to MPs."

On an earlier occasion, Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilleka said the issue of providing security for MPs would have to be taken up again, as no action has been taken despite assurances previously given by the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. “We raised this with the Speaker and the Inspector General of Police, and it was even discussed in Parliament. But so far, nothing has happened,” he said.

The Opposition has repeatedly criticised the National People’s Power Government’s decision to scale down personal security for MPs as part of its fiscal restraint measures. The Government has maintained that decisions on providing security to MPs would be taken based on recommendations made by the Police.