P’ment Committee seeks TV footage on House brawl

• Committee decides to gather evidence from TV recordings as CCTV cameras insufficient

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

 The Committee appointed to investigate the unruly behaviour of lawmakers after Parliament was reconvened on 14 November yesterday decided to seek evidence from television footage, in addition to CCTV recordings, to identify parliamentarians responsible.

During the meeting, the Committee decided the CCTV footage recorded by the Parliament cameras are insufficient to determine the identities of all MPs involved in the incident. As private and State TV stations were also engaged in telecasting of sessions, these stations would also have recordings of the incident.

 Additionally, the Parliament police officers, who are conducting a separate investigation, had also been summoned for the Committee meeting. During the meeting, the police confirmed receiving five complaints, which are now under investigation.The Committee, comprising MPs representing all parties, include UPFA MP and former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, UPFA MP Chandrasiri Gajadeera, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake, UNP MP R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, and ITAK MP Mavai S. Senathirajah. The Committee will be chaired by Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri.

Accordingly, the Committee is scheduled to meet again on 27 December to review the progress of the investigation.