Ranil raises concerns in Parliament over continued detention of MP Rishad Bathiudeen

UNP Leader and MP Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday in Parliament raised concerns over the continued detention of Wanni District MP and All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen.

Wickremesinghe said Bathiudeen should either be prosecuted if there is any evidence regarding his involvement in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks or released if there is no evidence against him.

The former Premier pointed out that the continued detention of MP Bathiudeen is not a question of just one Member of Parliament, but a question of parliamentary privilege. 

«All members of Parliament were at risk of losing their privileges next time if they did not act properly,» he added. 

Wickremasinghe said that cases have been filed against the DIGs and SPs of the police regarding the Easter Sunday incident and these officers did everything well and could not be said to have neglected their responsibilities.

He requested the Speaker to write to the Attorney General and ask him whether he has any evidence to prosecute MP Bathiudeen. He pointed out that the MP continued to be detained on claims he might influence the witnesses and evidence if any should be presented to justify the claim.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella also expressed his views during the debate and requested the Speaker to write to the Attorney General.

Responding to this, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that he had also inquired from the Attorney General regarding the reason for the arrest of MP Rishad Bathiudeen.