VIDEO: IGP must resign or I will - Thewarapperuma

June 22, 2014

 UNP Parliamentarian Palitha Thewarapperuma today accused Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary, Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero of throwing “straw” into an already ignited fire in Aluthgama and the government of pouring “petrol” on to it. 

The Kalutara District MP also demanded the resignation of IGP N.K. Illangakoon over the recent clashes which broke out in Aluthgama and Beruwala areas and said if the police chief does not step down he will resign from parliament. 

“If you (IGP) do not resign, I will resign from Parliament at the next session. We are ashamed to represent the district after witnessing these. I will resign,” he told reporters in Colombo.

He stated that if the Inspector General of Police wants to safeguard the respect of the Police Department and the police uniform, he should resign. 

Whether he received an order from higher-ups to intervene and resolve the situation or not he should take responsibility for this and resign, Thewarapperuma said, while accusing the IGP of remaining silent while the police spokesman spoke “baby talk”. 

Western Provincial Councilor Mujibur Rahaman, who also addressed the press briefing, stated that the government has failed in its duty to ensure peace and security in the country. 

The government is attempting to show the world that it’s not involved in these incidents and did not assist this, he said, however adding, that there is a question as to who allowed the Bodu Bala Sena meeting to be held in Aluthgama, while religious tension already existed there. 

“Who gave them the license? Who provided them with the location? Why did the police allow the use of loudspeakers to provoke the public?” he questioned the government. 

He also criticized the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for his recent comments, claiming that there are no legal provisions to arrest the Buddhist monks of the Bodu Bala Sena organization. 

How can the IGP say there are no legal provisions when the President of the Bar Association has written to the Attorney General asking for the law to be implemented against the BBS for inciting religious hatred, Rahaman inquired. 

The UNP Western Provincial Council member also claimed that none of the Muslim leaders, who held discussions with the President in Beruwala following the clashes, were from the affected areas. 

They were taken there from Colombo for the meeting and even they were asked by Presidential security personnel to refrain from asking any questions and to just sit and listen to what he says, Rahaman alleged.

He also accused the government of engaging in a conspiracy of creating clashes between Muslims and Sinhalese in order to brush aside the public’s opposition towards the ruling party.  

“If the government thinks it can protect its political power by espousing racism and destroying Muslim-Sinhala unity, that is a myth,” he said.