The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. The Hon. Leader of the Opposition raised the matter this morning, and the previous speaker also mentioned it: the assassination of a Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman in Matara District. I wish to state that incidents like this and recent shootings do not pose a threat to public security.

¶ 02 As we know, there are organized criminals in this country—gangs with weapons. Clashes occur among them; that is not in dispute. I explained this on 20 May. Armed gangs—organized underworld criminals—possess weapons and engage in clashes. Regarding today’s incident: the person shot dead is the Chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara, known as “Weligama Lasa.” Though he became a public representative, he was an underworld criminal. There are six cases against him: two in the High Court of Matara, two in the High Court of Kurunegala, and cases in Galle. He had sentences imposed, which were suspended. He was involved in underworld activities.

¶ 03 Statements from several organized criminals recently brought from Indonesia reveal he possessed certain weapons. Investigations are ongoing. He even appeared in court on 27 June on various matters, including a case related to money earned from narcotics trafficking.

¶ 04 Thus, these are rivalries among underworld figures, who use weapons to turn such conflicts into murders. This is what has been happening recently; today’s is a similar incident. The SJB says such persons are not in their party; I cannot speak to that. In May I also mentioned some names with SJB connections.

¶ 05 This individual was one such person. While we do not condone the killing of anyone, we are a Government that values human life. There will be a proper investigation. However, when an underworld criminal is placed in a political position by a party and appointed to office, and then is killed, he falls into the category of underworld criminal rather than that of public representative, given the cases and investigations showing he operated as a gang leader. The Police and CID have ample information, and matters have been reported to courts.

¶ 06 I remind the Hon. Leader of the Opposition and Hon. Members of that party: if a person appointed as a public representative were a law-abiding citizen, such things would not occur.

¶ 07 Thank you for the time, Hon. Presiding Member.