{"id":14642,"date":"2025-02-26T03:43:07","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T03:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=14642"},"modified":"2025-02-26T05:45:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T05:45:07","slug":"were-mahinda-rajapaksas-dismissed-bodyguards-called-back-to-duty-a-decision-to-provide-security-to-all-mps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/were-mahinda-rajapaksas-dismissed-bodyguards-called-back-to-duty-a-decision-to-provide-security-to-all-mps\/","title":{"rendered":"Were Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s dismissed bodyguards called back to duty? A decision to provide security to all MPs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The security provided to MPs and the former president has become a major topic these days after the murders of Sanjeeva Kumara Samararathne, aka \u2018Ganemulla Sanjeeva\u2019, and Aruna Widanagamage also known as \u2018Kajja\u2019. Here is an investigation we did on the misleading posts circulated regarding this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A social media post circulated stating \u201cFormer President Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s dismissed bodyguards are being called back to duty\u201d. <\/strong>(\u201c<\/em><\/strong>\u0dc4\u0dd2\u0da7\u0db4\u0dd4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0da2\u0db1\u0dcf\u0db0\u0dd2\u0db4\u0dad\u0dd2<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0db8\u0dc4\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dca\u0daf<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0dbb\u0dcf\u0da2\u0db4\u0d9a\u0dca\u0dc2<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0db8\u0dc4\u0dad\u0dcf\u0d9c\u0dda<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0d89\u0dc0\u0dad\u0dca<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0d9a\u0dc5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0d86\u0dbb\u0d9a\u0dca\u0dc2\u0d9a\u0dba\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dca<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0db1\u0dd0\u0dc0\u0dad\u0dad\u0dca<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0dbb\u0dcf\u0da2\u0d9a\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0dba\u0da7<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>\u0d9a\u0dd0\u0db3\u0dc0\u0dba\u0dd2<\/em><\/strong>\u201d )<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a> Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, the main stream media had also reported that all the 224 members of the parliament were given police security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some websites also reported this news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Newshub.lk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is how we checked the credibility of these claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact Check<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s security to 67 bodyguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was after an assessment of the former presidents’ security. Also, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said<\/a> that in addition to the security provided by the police to former Presidents, the security forces from the three armed forces would be removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/sup> to reconsider it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense Ministry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/sup>. He mentioned that it is completely fake and that such a decision has not been taken yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police Media Spokesperson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media Spokesperson of Mahinda Rajapaksa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t been made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President\u2019s Attorney Ali Sabri<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also inquired about President\u2019s Attorney Mr Ali Sabri, who represented the petitioner, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, when the fundamental rights petition was submitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that the court would not inform him that a decision had been taken until the petition was called again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police Media Spokesperson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A request to provide security to MPs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n