After leaving their positions as ministers, lawmakers are now permitted to keep two guns, according to a new regulation announced by the administration. After their legislative tenure are up, MPs are allowed to buy and retain these firearms for personal protection, according to the policy, which was unveiled yesterday.
During a media briefing, Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana provided clarification on this choice. He responded to a journalist’s concerns about the Defence Ministry’s recent statement that more MPs would be receiving guns.
Minister Gunawardana emphasized the violence that ensued from the Aragalaya demonstrations and the harm it did to the nation’s reputation. He justified the new approach by citing the horrific murder of a lawmaker by a faction of Aragalaya members. The minister also recalled the damage demonstrators had inflicted, such as the burning of the President’s library and the official homes of seventy-two lawmakers in a single day. He went on to discuss a supposed plan to blow up the Parliament building.
The administration has made the decision to let ministers to keep two weapons at home in order to protect both sitting and retired lawmakers. Minister Gunawardana declared that he does not personally see the need for a firearm, despite the fact that other MPs have already obtained one for self-defense.
The Ministry of Defence has also said that it will provide MPs repeater guns in addition to the pistols they are now granted. The 225 Members of Parliament are all qualified to acquire these weapons, the ministry notified the Secretary-General of Parliament.