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| A speaking photo of MP Eran Wickramarathna at empty airport taken by MP Ajith P. Perera |
The police media spokesman said that two police officers each of the VIP security had been deployed in the security of the MPs and they should have informed the relevant police station in case of any security issue of the MPs. However, they had not informed so, he added.
Police media spokesman said to Derana TV yesterday that the MPs had not sought security from police in their visit to the airport and harbor which had been criticized by the opposition for alleged inefficiency and malpractices.
However, MP Ajith P. Perera said to media yesterday that the MPs had informed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Southern Province about the situation.Derana TV showed a police vehicle driven ignoring MPs' plea to provide them with safety.
A violent mob attacked a group of Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) MPs today as they visited the newly built Hambanthota port and Mattala international airport.The attacks and manhandling of the members of the legislature were videoed and aired by private TV channels this evening. Footage showed police inactive whilst the attack.
A photo carried in media showed a gun wielding Mayor of Hambanthota Eraj Vernando running into the violent scene.
Some of the other persons who attacked the MPs are said to be the lumpen cohorts of the politicians who had been given jobs without proper work to do in return to their service at elections. Some others are the contractors, service providers and vendors who profit from the loss making ventures which have almost no business.
The group of MPs led by UNP MP Ajith P. Perera visited the development projects in down south today under an invitation from the government, as they said. The MP said that they had due permission from the Minister of Civil Aviation Priyankara Jayarathna.
The MPs were threatened by thugs that claimed to be defendants of the ventures. One person who claimed to be a person who wanted to safeguard the airport said that the MPs could see that three flights were landed in the so called international airport today. The MPs were jeered by mobs and they were attacked with rotten eggs and stones as they left the site due to troubles. The bus that was carrying the MPs and the media persons was damaged slightly.
MP Ajith P. Perera said to media that it was a very pathetic situation that the MPs were denied access to the public enterprises. He said that the MPs had informed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Southern Province about the situation.
