The Parliament, while clarifying that they had only forwarded the related notification from the Ministry of Defence to the Parliamentarians, stated that MPs should directly coordinate with the Ministry regarding the programme to provide them (MPs) with repeater guns.

The Ministry had informed the Secretary-General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera recently that the MPs would be allowed to purchase two repeater shotguns, each from their personal funds, and retain them even after they are out of office.

When contacted by The Daily Morning to inquire about the implementation of the programme, Rohanadheera said that the MPs who wish to purchase repeater guns should work directly with the Defence Ministry, adding that the Parliament did not have any involvement in the matter. 

“We only forwarded the notification that we received from the Ministry to the MPs. Now, if any MPs wish to purchase repeater guns, they should go to the Ministry and purchase them,” she said.

Attempts to contact Minister of Defence, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon proved futile.

The repeater guns which are to be possessed by MPs must be licensed annually in their respective districts, and MPs reportedly have the option to choose from three different models. However, they have been prohibited from transferring these guns to any other party or carrying them into the Parliament and other crowded places. 

Responding to concerns about MPs being able to retain the guns even after their term ends, Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana recently said that he had no issue with it, as the decision was made by the Defence Ministry while the National People’s Power of the Parliamentary Opposition declined the offer whilst describing the same at this juncture of a Presidential Election campaign as constituting a “dangerous bribe”.