CID to conduct investigations into P’ment brawl

Investigations into the illegal acts of lawmakers in Parliament, perpetrated when they attacked police officers and destroyed public property last month, have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police.

During the parliamentary sessions on 15 and 16 November, lawmakers supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked the Speaker and brawled with rival lawmakers in an attempt to disrupt the vote on a no-confidence motion against the illegally appointed Prime Minister.

During the 16 November session, MPs supporting Rajapaksa attacked the police officers who escorted the Speaker into the Chamber with chili powder mixed with water and hurled chairs and books at opposition MPs. Several police officers and opposition MPs were injured in the attacks.

Police sources said that several statements have already been recorded in this regard.

The CID is also conducting inquiries into a letter that was being circulated through social media claiming to have been written by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to Chief Justice Nalin Perera.