Cannot bring Rishad to Parliament due to COVID fears - CID

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed Parliament that it is unable to bring former Minister and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen to attend this week's Parliament sessions as a security officer assigned to him has tested positive for COVID-19. 

In a letter to Parliament's Secretary General Dhammika Dassanayake, CID Director SSP Rohan Premaratne has informed that they will not be able to bring Mr Bathiudeen to Parliament to attend today's and tomorrow's sessions as a security officer who had been assigned to the MP's security detail has tested positive for COVID-19 while another security officer has been placed in quarantine after his wife was identified as a first contact of a COVID patient. 

In addition, a CID officer has also tested positive for the virus, leading to 27 of his close contacts being isolated. As such, there is now a danger of COVID-19 spreading within the CID, the letter has stated.

In such a situation, any move to bring Mr Bathiudeen to Parliament will place the health of MPs and Parliament staff at considerable risk, the CID has claimed. 

The letter has requested further instructions from the Speaker on bringing Mr Bathiudeen to attend Parliament in light of the rapid spread of COVID-19. 

On instructions from the Speaker, Parliament's Serjeant-at-Arms had earlier written to the CID Director informing him to make arrangements to bring Rishad Bathiudeen to Parliament to attend sessions if he makes a request. Mr Bathiudeen was due to attend Parliament sessions held today and tomorrow. 

The ACMC leader is currently being detained by the CID after being arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on charges of aiding and abetting the Easter Sunday attackers.