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

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, first, we express profound sorrow to the family of the lawyer and his wife who were killed.

¶ 02 Some attempt to portray this incident as creating a special situation affecting national security. We devalue no life; we strive to protect all lives and have taken many decisions since assuming office.

¶ 03 There is a large number of weapons circulating in society. A significant number of firearms provided to politicians in the past—hundreds—have not been returned. Investigations are ongoing into weapons given to criminal elements from military camps. In this environment such murders occur; we condemn this culture of killing and again convey our condolences.

¶ 04 Two further incidents occurred nearby around the same time, but they are isolated and unrelated.

¶ 05 Responses to the Opposition Leader’s questions:

¶ 06 1. The area is not a designated High Security Zone. It is an isolated incident and poses no threat to national security. Ensuring the safety of the legal community and all citizens is a Government responsibility, and we are committed to it.

¶ 07 2. This does not constitute a threat to the rule of law as a system. We are taking all measures to put a complete stop to such acts. A national programme to eradicate narcotics-related crime is in operation with extensive raids, given the direct link between underworld activity and drug trafficking.

¶ 08 Note that any lawyer may appear for any suspect; until convicted, a suspect remains a suspect. Appearing for suspects is a lawyer’s professional duty guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore, we do not accept that the legal fraternity as a whole is under threat. Accordingly, this incident has no impact on national security or the collective safety of the legal community.

¶ 09 3. Neither the Police nor the Government declared it an “underworld” act immediately; such claims circulated in social media. There was already a police inquiry involving the deceased lawyer, and a statement had been recorded. We are conducting a deep investigation beyond that matter. Several persons have been arrested for aiding and abetting; more information has been received. We aim to bring the perpetrator swiftly before the law.

¶ 10 We need time, given entrenched political cultures; yet we have taken numerous steps and will apprise this House of measures to suppress underworld activity. We cannot disclose more now without prejudicing investigations. We proceed on evidence, not presumptions, and have assigned scientific investigative teams.

¶ 11 While shootings in several places over the past year were unrelated, we have protected many lives by seizing significant numbers of weapons prepared for such crimes, including 75 T-56 rifles, 85 pistols, 62 revolvers, and 2 submachine guns. In 2025 we also repatriated 23 major narcotics and organized crime suspects hiding overseas—the highest number in recent history—with ongoing efforts to curb such activities.

¶ 12 Regarding protection of the justice process, we have taken steps to provide security to judges where necessary, upon intelligence assessments and confirmation of threat levels, and similarly for officers of the Attorney General’s Department. We also analyze and act on threats against lawyers and investigating officers.

¶ 13 This incident has not created a threat to national security, nor a professional-wide threat to the legal fraternity. If any person exceeds limits in any role, we will investigate appropriately. Twelve police teams—CID, STF, Colombo Crime Division, Central Anti-Crime Task Force and others—have been deployed.