State officials caught in political tug of war

Colombo (News1st) - Members of the UNP including MP Nalin Bandara arrived at the police headquarters this evening (Nov 6) carrying a letter by Ranjith Madduma Bandara informing the IGP on how to act as he is still the subject minister. Nalin Bandara said that they arrived at the police headquarters to inspect the activities of the institution and deliver a letter by the subject Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and a number of other letters on the security of Ministers. Speaking to the media after exiting the Police headquarters, MP Nalin Bandara stated that a police inspector accepted the letter and a copy of the Speaker's statement. He noted that a request was made for security to be restored to the PM and other Ministers. While MP Palitha Thewaraperuma complained about the absence of the IGP at Police HQ on a public holiday, MP Daya Gamage took a more aggressive tone and stated that he would sue the IGP and the Police and demand compensation for threats posed against his life and inconveniences caused to him. Meanwhile, Ranjith Maddumma Bandara issuing a letter to ministry secretaries and heads of state institutions warned that legal action would be taken against those who follow the orders of any other group and cause losses to the state institutions. Going on the basis of the Speaker's statement that he accepts the status quo which prevailed before the proroguing of Parliament, Madduma Bandara claims that they continue to remain in the government while Ranil Wickremesinghe remains the PM. When inquired about MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara's letter, Prime Minister's Secretary S. Amarasekara explained that in an occasion where a minister has not been appointed to head a subject ministry, it automatically comes under the purview of the President. While noting that the current Government does not have a Minister of state administration at present, Amarasekara noted that if anyone claims to act as such a minister and issue orders, they would be forced to hand over the matter to the CID.