Heated exchange in Parliament turns violent, MP injured in clash

A heated exchange between the Government and joint opposition in Parliament turned violent today resulting in a Parliamentarian sustaining injuries.

The heated exchange took place when opposition Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena questioned Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the decision to withdraw the army security given to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Gunawardena said that?Rajapaksa defeated the LTTE and replacing the army security given to him with police security places his life at risk.

The Prime Minister then responded saying a decision was taken to provide police security to all VVIPs and that Rajapaksa can pick the police officers he wants in his security detail.

He also said that even former army commander Sarath Fonseka does not have army security despite leading the army during the final stages of the war.

Fonseka then spoke and made comments on some of the security officers who were assigned to Rajapaksa and this led to a heated exchange of words between the opposition and the Government.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was then forced to suspend sittings as the situation turned violent during which UNP Parliamentarian Sandith Samarasinghe sustained injuries and was admitted to hospital.

Jayasuriya then postponed sittings till tomorrow. ?(Colombo Gazette)