It is reported that more than 20 opposition MPs have submitted letters to the Secretary General of Parliament requesting the provision of pistols for security.
This is in addition to the request made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of opposition MPs through the Speaker to provide security to all opposition MPs.
Following the murder of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekera and the statement made in Parliament that Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Jagath Withana has been receiving threats to his life, the opposition leader and opposition MPs have been requesting security for the past few days.
A special discussion was held in the Parliament complex yesterday in this regard, which was attended by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne and IGP Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya.
At that time, the opposition members stated that security should be provided to all opposition members first so that they can carry out their political activities in a safe environment without any hindrance.
The Speaker pointed out that although the government had taken a policy decision regarding the security of members, it had gone beyond that and taken action regarding the relevant requests and accordingly, steps had already been taken to provide security to some members.