Claiming that the officials of the Parliament's Department of Serjeant-at-Arms (W. Narendra M. Fernando) did not take adequate measures to prevent State Minister Sanath Nishantha from snatching a file of his (Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Leader Sajith Premadasa) during the Parliamentary session on Tuesday (21), Premadasa yesterday (22) raised concerns over the security of MPs within the Parliamentary premises.

The incident of a group of ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarians disrupting Premadasa when the latter was raising questions in the Parliament on Tuesday, and Nishantha snatching his file, sparked controversy.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Premadasa queried Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana as to who is responsible for the MPs' security within the Parliamentary premises. 

“Who is overseeing our security in the Parliament? Is it you, the Parliamentary Secretary General (Kushani Rohanadeera), or the Serjeant-at-Arms? Is there anyone responsible or, do you (Speaker) want us to provide our own security? If that is the case, we can do it.” he said.

Referring to the incident on Tuesday, he questioned Abeywardana as to what the latter would do if someone caused any physical harm to them (MPs). “If someone causes any physical harm to us, will you (Speaker) be just watching it doing nothing? If you don’t have a backbone to ensure our security, let us know, so that we can look after ourselves,” He went on to say.

In response to Premadasa, Abeywardana said that it is the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Parliament, and his staff that provide security to MPs. “This has been the Parliamentary tradition for a long time. As I feel, they (Serjeant-at-Arms and other officials) did what they could do during Tuesday's incident.”

Premadasa responded to the Speaker saying that he would not agree with what the latter said. “I don’t accept what you said. What did the Serjeant-at-Arms and his staff do until someone snatched a file from the Opposition Leader? I don’t like to insult them, but you should give us a clear decision. If your officials cannot provide security, let us know about it,” he said.

The Serjeant-at-Arms of the Parliament is a Parliamentary official responsible for order in the Parliament. The Office was established in 1948 modelled on the Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons and traditionally included the responsibility for security.