Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena made an urgent plea today (21) in Parliament, urging the Speaker to summon a woman from the Kalutara Katukurunda area before the Privileges Committee. Abeygunawardena asserted that the woman had violated his privileges by posting defamatory remarks on social media, implicating him and Acting Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon as thieves deserving immediate arrest.
During his address in Parliament, Abeygunawardena condemned the derogatory nature of the post shared by Lalanti Perera, a participant in the 2015 elections colloquially known as the “Cake Nona”. He stressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that the false accusations not only infringed upon his parliamentary privileges but also endangered his life.
The MP underscored the importance of collective action by all 225 Members of Parliament against such smear campaigns, highlighting the need for swift and decisive measures to address instances of defamation on social media platforms. Abeygunawardena warned that failure to address such matters effectively would undermine the significance of legislation such as the Online Safety Act.
Furthermore, Abeygunawardena emphasized the fundamental principle of accountability, asserting that individuals have the right to criticize elected representatives only when warranted by factual evidence. He reiterated that false accusations not only violate the rights of MPs but also undermine the integrity of the democratic process and erode public trust.
In light of these concerns, Abeygunawardena called for urgent action to address defamation on social media, safeguarding the dignity and reputation of elected officials and upholding the principles of justice and fairness.
