Public should have been told of danger: Dinesh

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Government continued to come under serious criticism over security lapses yesterday, with United People’s Freedom Alliance lawmaker Dinesh Gunawardena yet again demanding that the Government should resign and insisting the public should have been informed of the security threats.   

MP Gunawardena taking part in the debate on the State of Emergency held that the Government had failed to count the actual numbers of the injured.  “There are missing an unidentified body of foreigners, but the Government has failed to provide a list of these foreigners. This is a cowardly act of terrorists who calls themselves extremists. Both the Prime Minister and the State Minister of Defence still do not know what took place. He is my friend, but Royalists should stand up instead of dodging and running away. 

“How can you say that you don’t know? This was discussed in 2016. I have seen what happened in 1983 and the Parliament met under curfew. It is better to release such information to national newspapers, such action will at least help keep the people safe. This is why the Leader of the Opposition demands that you quit,” he added.

According to Gunawardena, the Indian Intelligence Service has informed the State Intelligence Service on 4 April of the looming threat of an attack on churches and the tourist places. 

“The letter was sent for necessary action. This is the way you behave after getting to know all, so we have the responsibility of re-establishing security in this country. Your actions have crippled the security of this country,” he added, proposing the Government recheck visas issued without any checking. (AH)