JO Parliamentarian says facing harassment for criticising President

• Raises privilege issue in Parliament, says his complaints have been ignored for four years

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – our Lobby Correspondent

UPFA’s Joint Opposition group MP Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday raised a privilege issue highlighting life threats from parties related to President Maithripala Sirisena and Police and said his complaints had been ignored for four years.

MP Ranasinghe, who represents the Polonnaruwa District, brought the attention of the House to harassment he had faced, highlighting how the Police had barely take action in relation to investigating the complaints. 

Reminding Parliament of the breach of his privileges, which was taken up in the Parliament and went without action, MP Ranasinghe said: “Four years ago I raised a privilege issue in the Parliament and no action was taken to resolve it. I was elected to Parliament for the second time having received the highest votes from Polonnaruwa District. I am Opposition lawmaker and also a member of the Joint Opposition group of the United People’s Freedom Alliance. I continue to criticise President Maithripala Sirisena’s political opinion. This is done for the betterment of the people who elected me and the country. As a result, I am harassed by parties related to the President. I am attacked from all sides by the President and his family.”

According to MP Ranasinghe, the Head of Polonnaruwa Police Station is a close ally of the President Sirisena and ignores instructions of the Deputy Inspector General of the North Central Province as well as the Inspector General of Police in Colombo. 

“Police are not taking action against any of the comments I lodge. M.S.M. Jarool, the HQI of Police Polonnaruwa, is not listening to the IGP or the DIG in charge of the North Central Province. He listens to the President’s family police. He has been there in the station for over six years; an HQI cannot stay in one Police station for over three years. How can you protect the privileges of a lawmaker having such an HQI? He has got me involved in a legal battle based on a fabricated case of attempted murder in Aralaganwila. I have not taken my firearm. I can obtain a pistol as a businessman but haven’t done so. I do politics peacefully,” he said.

MP Ranasinghe, who claims to have led peaceful political campaigns in the area, added that UNP lawmakers could vouch for him. “You can ask United National Party lawmakers in Polonnaruwa District how I do politics. In 2016, a group of unknown people made an attempt on my life. On another occasion, a grenade was thrown at me in 2017 in Welikanda. My private business establishment in Colombo was set on fire in August 2017. According to the Government analyst, it was an act of arson,” he explained.

“The President is the Minister of Defence. His brother Dudley Sirisena has threatened me on three occasions. During Poson Poya Day I was threatened over the phone. A complaint was lodged with the Police, the family police of Polonnaruwa. No action has been taken. I wrote to the CID and they have replied that it is not a relevant matter. No point talking about this when a life is lost,” he added, seeking urgent attention from the Speaker.

UNP lawmaker Sidney Jayarathne, who is also from the Polonnaruwa District, was seen on his feet confirming that he too had experienced the same issue for some years.

Meanwhile, UNP lawmaker Hirunika Premachandra moved another privilege issue, highlighting President Sirisena’s alleged involvement in cutting her off from a television program recently.

“I was to take part in a program on ITN and was informed the President had asked them to cancel my participation. On top of that, I got to know that he is trying to shut my mouth. I remind him that the same mouth was used to speak at rallies to elect him and I will continue to use it to remove him,” she said.

She also urged fellow lawmakers who were facing threats to their lives to take care while travelling in vehicles. (AH)