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The security provided to MPs and the former president has become a major topic these days after the murders of Sanjeeva Kumara Samararathne, aka ‘Ganemulla Sanjeeva’, and Aruna Widanagamage also known as ‘Kajja’. Here is an investigation we did on the misleading posts circulated regarding this.
Social Media Posts
A social media post circulated stating “Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dismissed bodyguards are being called back to duty”. (“හිටපු ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතාගේ ඉවත් කළ ආරක්ෂකයින් නැවතත් රාජකාරියට කැඳවයි” )
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In the meantime, the main stream media had also reported that all the 224 members of the parliament were given police security.
Some websites also reported this news.
Here is how we checked the credibility of these claims.
Fact Check
In December last year, the Acting Inspector General of Police took steps to reduce the number of police officers assigned to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s security to 67 bodyguards.
That was after an assessment of the former presidents’ security. Also, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that in addition to the security provided by the police to former Presidents, the security forces from the three armed forces would be removed.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also filed a fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court requesting an order to reinstate his security, which had been removed by the current government. On February 6th, the Supreme Court ordered the petition to be recalled on March 19th to reconsider it.
Defense Ministry
Due to this, we inquired of the Defense Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha. There, we asked him whether Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dismissed bodyguards had been reinstated even before the petition is scheduled to be recalled on March 19th. He mentioned that it is completely fake and that such a decision has not been taken yet.
Police Media Spokesperson
The Police Media Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manatunga, also confirmed that the circulating news that the dismissed bodyguards of Mahinda Rajapaksa are being called to duty is false.
Media Spokesperson of Mahinda Rajapaksa
We also asked the media spokesperson of Mahinda Rajapaksa, lawyer Mr. Ravindra Manoj Gamage, about this, and he also mentioned that it is false and that a decision hasn’t been made.
President’s Attorney Ali Sabri
We also inquired about President’s Attorney Mr Ali Sabri, who represented the petitioner, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, when the fundamental rights petition was submitted.
He said that the court would not inform him that a decision had been taken until the petition was called again.
In the meantime, many mainstream media outlets have also reported that police officers have been appointed to provide security for all the members of Parliament.
Police Media Spokesperson
Here, too, Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manatunga mentioned that it has not been decided to provide police protection for all the members of parliament.
A request to provide security to MPs
Parliament speaker Jagath Wickramarathne recently made a request in Parliament to the Acting Inspector General of Police to take necessary steps to strengthen the security of MPs from time to time, as MPs have requested to take steps regarding their security.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala reportedly told TV Derana Media Network in an inquiry that the government has not yet made any decision regarding providing police officers to protect parliamentarians.
He further mentioned that the government’s policy regarding the security of MPs has not changed. He explained that these requests have been made by some opposition members and not by the Minister of the ruling party. He also mentioned that a notification has been made to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security to provide a report on the security threats to the MPs who have submitted the relevant requests.
Considering those reports, steps will be taken to provide police protection to the concerned MPs only if necessary. Considering the current situation, Minister Ananda Wijepala further stated that he has given instructions to implement a special security program at the level of police stations for the houses of MPs and the events they participate in.
After the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeeva at the Hulftsdorp Magistrate Court on the 19th, several MPs requested police protection.
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Conclusion
Our investigation shows that the claims circulated through social media stating that the dismissed security officials of Mahinda Rajapaksa have been reinstated and that all 224 MPs of the parliament have requested police security are false. The Defense Ministry and the Police Media Spokesperson confirm them as false claims.
Title:Were Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dismissed bodyguards called back to duty? A decision to provide security to all MPs?
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: Misleading
