Investigations into killing of four MPs to be taken up in Geneva

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has requested Sri Lanka to present the details of the investigations conducted over the killing of four members of parliament. These reports will be discussed at the IPU’s 133rd assembly scheduled for 15 October in Geneva.

Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala who will be heading the Sri Lankan delegation updated the media yesterday at the Parliament Complex on plans to present the findings of the investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on the killings of MPs Nadaraja Raviraja, Joseph Pararajasingham, T. Maheshwaran, and D.M. Dassanayake.

The delegation will include a mix of lawmakers from both sides; Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Dr. Mrs. Anoma Gamage, UNP MP Ranjith Aluvihare, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake, and ITAK MP Shanthi Sriskandarasa. Minister Dr. Mrs. Gamage and MP Sriskandarasa will represent the IPU meeting on women parliamentarians. According to the agenda, MP Ratnayake will represent Sri Lanka at the Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU scheduled to be held on 18 October. The Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians is scheduled to meet every day from 15 October till 21 October where the cases of Sri Lanka will be taken up.