Following the recent meeting with the Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya, the main parliamentary opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), stated they expect the Police to finalise the provision of security for the Members of Parliament (MPs) as soon as possible.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilleka said that Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa and several MPs had made a clear request to both the Speaker and the IGP to ensure adequate security for MPs in light of recent security-related incidents. “We pointed out to them that MPs should have adequate security, and both the Speaker and IGP responded positively.”

According to him, the IGP had informed them the Police would carry out formal threat assessments before assigning security personnel to MPs: “If there is any MP who does not require security, they will refuse it. We hope the Police will make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible. They should do this without delay.”

Following the meeting held on 31 October and chaired by the Speaker, the IGP clarified the provision of security to MPs and Local Government members would not be automatic or uniform, and that all allocations would depend on individual threat assessments. He rejected media reports that claimed that all MPs who requested security would receive it, and explained that such protection would only be granted when a credible threat has been identified through the intelligence process.

The session was convened at the request of Opposition parties including the SJB, following the recent assassination of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairperson Lasantha Wickramasekara. The Opposition has consistently criticised the Government’s decision to scale down personal security for legislators under its fiscal restraint measures.