The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

¶ 01 That is fine, Hon. Speaker, but as an MP and Minister, my privileges are also affected. I need briefly to clarify, otherwise the public will think I breached his privilege. A meeting on Opposition MPs’ security was held under your leadership, reported in the media. You chaired it; as I know, the SJB General Secretary Hon. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi, Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Hon. Shanakkian Rasamanickam, and Hon. Ramanathan Archchuna participated, along with Armed Forces and Police officials. At that meeting, Hon. Marikkar said he faced threats from within his party from persons for whom he did not recommend nominations at the Nominations Committee. I told the media exactly that. If the General Secretary agrees, he will confirm it. So any “breach” to him arises from within his party, not from me.

¶ 02 I also ask, how are matters from the Constitutional Council disclosed? Who represents the Opposition there? Please inquire, Hon. Speaker, how such secrets emerge. Hon. Marikkar’s threat is internal to his party; he said so in that meeting chaired by you. Therefore, I told media to verify with the Speaker.