Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala today said the double murder of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda was an isolated incident and posed no threat to national security.
He also said the killings did not take place within a high-security zone. The Minister was responding to questions raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament.
Premadasa questioned the minister’s assertion, asking whether the Defence Headquarters was not located in close proximity to the site of the incident.
The Opposition Leader also raised concerns about the state of law and order in the country and the safety of the legal community and the public.
“Ensuring the security of the legal community as well as the public is the government’s responsibility. We are committed to it,” Wijepala said in response.
Premadasa also questioned attempts to portray the incident as linked to underworld activity, asking why such characterizations were being made before the conclusion of investigations. He said presenting the incident as underworld-related prior to completing inquiries raised concerns about motive.
He further asked how the public could be assured of their security and questioned whether the Public Security Minister had failed in his duties. Premadasa noted that nearly 111 shootings were reported last year.
Wijepala said the government’s anti-narcotics drive had led to an increase in shootings as witnessed last year. He added that a significant number of weapons previously entrusted to politicians had not been returned and that investigations were under way into firearms allegedly released from military camps to underworld groups.
Addressing the legal fraternity, the Minister Wijepala said lawyers are free to represent any suspect.
“Even an organized criminal, until he is declared a criminal, will remain a suspect. We acknowledge constitutional rights. It is the professional duty of a lawyer to appear for a suspect, which we accept,” he said, adding that the incident would not hinder members of the legal community from carrying out their duties.
Responding to Premadasa’s remarks, Wijepala said neither the government nor the Police had made any statement suggesting links between the killings and the underworld, despite social media reports making such claims.
“The Police had recorded a statement from the deceased lawyer in connection with an investigation. Other than this, no comment was made on it,” he said.
He said 12 police teams have been deployed to investigate the case and that several arrests have already been made. (Newswire)