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3 weeks after Aluthgama riots police are yet to record statement: Thevarapperuma
View(s):UNP Kalutara District MP Palitha Thevarapperuma who threatened to resign from Parliament over Police inaction during the Aluthgama incidents said, Police were yet to record a statement from him, even though he was injured and his vehicle badly damaged as he attempted to defy the rioters.
MP Thenuwara soon after the Aluthgama incident
MP Thevarapperuma tendered his letter of resignation on Tuesday to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had refused to accept it, saying that all the Opposition MPs must stand together on the issue, and by staying in Parliament, the Kalutara District MP could serve the people of his area better by putting more pressure on the Government to investigate the incidents.
“The UNP was fully supportive of my position that the Government must do more to investigate the incidents that took place in Aluthgama. Otherwise, we are sitting on a time bomb that could explode anytime, especially if we fail to punish those who caused the unrest,” he told the Sunday Times.
Mr. Thevarapperuma said he still stands by his call for Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon to resign for failing to control the situation in Aluthgama. “It is unfortunate that the Police were forced to stand by and watch, while rioters were causing destruction,” he said.
Mr. Thevarapperuma was injured in the face requiring three stitches. His vehicle were attacked by thugs as he attempted to rescue some women and children fleeing the scene of the attacks. “The Police jeep was in front of me, but they did not do anything. The thugs hit the vehicle I was in with a big pole, smashing the windscreen and I was injured. Others inside the jeep were also injured,” he said.
However, nearly three weeks after the incidents, Police are yet to record a statement from him. “I think the investigations are not transparent. If they were serious about it, they should have at least recorded a statement from me,” he said.
Mr. Thevarapperuma also raised the issue as a privilege matter in Parliament, saying his rights as an MP had been violated by the attack on him, while he was engaged in helping people from his electorate.