JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake today hit out at the Police for attempting to cover up the recent death of a youth in Embilipitiya after falling from an upper floor of a house.

Speaking at the Parliament, Dissanayake said that the youth was no spiderman to break through the glass and jump from an upper floor window.

Several relatives have alleged that the youth was pushed down from the upper floor.

The police report filed about the incident is a blatant attempt to cover up its involvement, Dissanayake said, pointing out that the police has to explain as to why a high ranking officer was present at the scene. The government has to explain the details and progress on the investigations into the incident, he added.

Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake defended the police, saying that the group involved had obstructed the policemen. Eight people were arrested for obstructing the police and the police have identified five of them during the identification parade, he added.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake today said that the government acted in an arbitrary manner at the outset of constitutional reform in introducing the resolution on the Constitutional Assembly.

Speaking at a press conference today, he said that the constitution should changed according to the Standing Orders.

However, the Prime Minister has violated standing orders to a considerable extent in proposing the resolution, he added.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday proposed the resolution to convert the Parliament to a Constitutional Assembly to draft a new constitution. However, opponents have argued that it should be drafter through a Standing Committee.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake today said that certain journalists had accepted bribes from Avant Garde Maritime Services and were trying to defend it, compromising their professional ethics.

Speaking at a media conference today in Colombo, Dissanayake said that while many journalists were keeping to the accepted work ethics, there were others who work for vested interests.

These journalists were employed in both print media and web media, Dissanayake said, adding that he was able to give information on them if necessary.

Speaking on the Avant Garde controversy, he pointed out that certain newspapers were carrying articles which defend the company. Certain websites, while claiming to be against corruption, were defending the Avant Garde Company, he added.

Dissanayake pointed out that many newspapers had defended the company on the day after his recent speech in Parliament regarding the controversy. Except two newspapers, all others reported that Avant Garde was legal, he observed.

If companies like Avant Garde could control media, there is a serious issue which the JVP cannot ignore, Dissanayake said. While the JVP will speak out for media freedom, it will not tolerate such interference by vested interests, he added.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has made plans to make George Soros a main investor of the country’s economy, JVP leader Anura Dissanayake said.

Dissanayake added that Soros was the man behind the economic downfall of France in 1989. The JVP leader made these remarks addressing the party’s 26th November heroes’ commemoration.

He also said that Wickremesinghe’s mid-term economic policy, which was presented to parliament recently, was failing the country.

“Under his government, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa invited the casino king James Packer to Sri Lanka as an investor”, Dissanayake added.

Furthermore, Dissanayake said that Wickremesinghe is making plans to sell off the properties under the Sri Lankan Hotel Cooperation, including Lanka Hospitals.

The Frontline Socialist Party will lodge a complaint at the Police Headquarters against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his comments on the 2012 abduction of Kumar Gunaratnam.

Rajapaksa told a weekend newspaper that he received information and photos from the current JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to make the 'arrest'. Dissanayake repeatedly urged him to arrest and deport Gunaratnam, Rajapaksa also claimed.

He also alleged that Anura Dissanayake helped to verify certain photos of Gunaratnam.

However, at a recent press conference, Anura Dissanayake vehemently denied these allegations and called for the questioning of Rajapaksa over the matter.

JVP leader and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake lashed out at the government today in Parliament, claiming that the government has fallen under the influence of 'dealers' and is not taking legal steps against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

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Dissanayake claimed that the President and the Prime Minister were not aware of the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa in April. If they were aware of such an event, he would not have been arrested, the JVP leader further claimed.

Following Basil Rajapaksa's arrest, the Financial Crimes Investigations Division was ordered not to arrest anyone, Dissanayake also claimed.

He said numerous investigations have been concluded by the FCID but no arrests are being made. He mentioned the distribution of 'sil-redi' by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, inquiries on 'Siriliya Saviya' of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, investigations on Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, inquiries on financial fraud in CSN, investigations on fraudulent petroleum import, probe on financial fraud in RDA, investigations on fraud in Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the fraudulent deals in a company named CWG Hambantota among the investigations that have been completed.

Dissanayake claimed that the procedure has been stalled at the IGP and the Attorney General's department.

The JVP leader pointed out that the police did not take the case regarding the TRC to the Magistrate's Court to prevent former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and former Director General of TRC Anusha Palpita from being remanded. He pointed out that Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris has summoned the FCID Director to give explanation on this matter.

Dissanayake also questioned as to how former MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena was released on bail.

The JVP leader also claimed that the Avant-Garde incident is being suppressed because of such political deals.

He claimed that all these happened due to political deals. Those who are responsible for corruption have been included in the government, and therefore the government is powerless to take action against them, Dissanayake also alleged.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was admitted to Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital following a sudden illness last night.

Dissanayake reportedly had a mild heart attack but his condition is stable, reports said.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday (21) stressed that a special parliament debate should be held on the Avant-Garde floating armoury case.

Speaking in the parliament, Dissanayake further said that following such a debate, a parliamentary select committee also could be appointed to look into the matter.

Dissanayake also said that Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratna Bandara, during a meeting where the Prime Minister was also in attendance, had asserted that a criminal case could be filed against Avant-Garde floating armoury, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Firearms Ordinance and Explosives Act.

During the same meeting, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that cases should not be filed based on the Prevention of Terrorism Act, since the government has reservations on it, Dissanayake recalled.

Dissanayake questioned the Attorney General's statement that the investigations on floating armoury could only be conducted under the Money Laundering Act, saying that the AG is trying to withdraw the criminal cases that could be filed.

However, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe maintained that the AG has not been influenced by political authorities. The AG did not order the suspension of investigations, Wickremasighe claimed.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that the investigations on Avant-Garde floating armories are still underway.

The JVP will hold a 'National Forum On ‘Proposals for Immediate Reforms’ tomorrow at the Sri Lanka Foundation on the 20-point reform program it submitted recently to the President and the Prime Minister.

JVP National List MP Bimal Rathnayake told Asian Mirror that it will be the first of a series of events organized to raise awareness on the reform programme.

Commenting on the 'Proposals for Immediate Reforms' he said that it was prepared following consultation with university academics, environmentalists and other groups. Therefore, this is not a programme proposed by only the JVP, he pointed out.

Rathnayaka said that all these stakeholders will represent the programme, and will join in the fight to urge the government to adapt it.

The National Forum On ‘Proposals for Immediate Reforms’ will be held at 3.30pm with the participation of JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and several other guests.