UNP goes global with MP’s threat

The United National Party (UNP) hierarchy is planning to take the harassment of its MPs to the international fora beginning with the European Parliament in the wake of death threats to its Kurunegala district MP Johnston Fernando. Mr. Fernando lodged a complaint with the Kurunegala police on Wednesday afternoon and wrote to Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara of the alleged threats to his life and sought more security.

Mr. Fernando said the threats were related to his revelations regarding the alleged fraudulent MiG purchase deal and the allegations that a top Defence official was linked to it.

The UNP MP said the callers had threatened to bury him or send him to prison as was done to rebel UNP MP Sripathi Sooriyarachchi.

On Monday, Mr.Fernando told a news briefing that even though several policemen were interdicted because of the Ampara bomb blast, no action has been taken against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse despite the LTTE air attack just because he was the President’s brother.

The UNP MP said that full responsibility for the attack at Katunayake should be borne by the Defence Secretary.“The purchase of the MiG aircraft was sanctioned by the Secretary not in the interest of the security of the country but the only deciding factor was the commissions the purchase would fetch,” he alleged.