Jaffna District MP Dr Ramanathan Archuna claimed that he was assaulted on December 3rd within the premises of the Opposition Leader’s office in the parliament by Sinhala parliamentarian Sujith Sanjaya Perera.
“I went to the Opposition Leader’s office at around 2.30 P.M to enquire about the time allocation for the day, but nothing was communicated to me today,” said Ramanathan in a statement to Sri Lanka’s parliament. “I asked if I have time for tomorrow to some of the officials present there, after that they immediately took me to the nearby room and said I was allocated around 4.00 P.M tomorrow”.
Ramanathan said he questioned them as to how they are allowed to make such decisions by themselves. He was told to speak to Perera and another member, and said whilst speaking to them, Perera assaulted him. Ramanathan went on to state said that he didn’t hit him back because Perera was his father’s age.
“If this happens within Parliament, how are we to go out there in the streets?” Ramanathan questioned.
Meanwhile, SJB MP Perera rejected Ramanathan’s allegation saying that, “no such incident took place”.
Earlier this year Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam told Sri Lanka’s parliament that Sinhala lawmaker Rohitha Abeygunawardena attempted to assault him, whilst they were in the Prime Minister’s office.
