Joint opposition rejects allegations of death threats against Speaker

• JVP wants investigation results revealed to Parliament
• Chief Opposition Whip says Speaker has final decision on parliamentary affairs; cannot be threatened for wielding that authority

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Lawmakers for the ‘joint opposition’ yesterday rejected allegations that Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya had received death threats for not recognising the pro-Rajapaksa faction as a separate and independent bloc.

UPFA MP and member of the pro-Rajapaksa group, Bandula Gunewardane said it was the Speaker’s own responsibility to conduct an investigation into the alleged threats and inform Parliament about the results of the investigation.

“An investigation must be conducted urgently. It is not difficult to find out the caller. You are our protector. It is a serious issue if you too receive death threats,” Gunewardane said.

He added that throughout history MPs had threats, especially to boycott Parliament. “There was a time that MPs such as Vasudeva Nanayakkara had to reinforce their vehicles to travel to and from the Parliament,” Gunewardane claimed.  

Joining the discussion, Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the Speaker was the ultimate authority on parliamentary affairs.

“Death threats alleged to have been made against the Speaker is a serious matter that requires considerable attention. Members of this Parliament can have different opinions and debate things. But the Speaker has the final decision,” he explained.

Dissanayake said that it was a serious matter if the Speaker was going to be at the receiving end of death threats because his decision differs from some MPs.

“I urge the Speaker to inform Parliament about the details of the investigation into these threatening calls,” he said.

However, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he had ignored the death threats, and requested MPs to overlook them as “a part of politics.”

“I have instructed my security officers to take certain action about the incident. I expect to discuss this matter tomorrow with senior police officers. Criticism, hate speech, defamation, assaults, and attacks of all kinds are common in politics. Even though I am not shaken from this incident the House will be kept informed with the action taken,” explained Speaker Jayasuriya.