Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna has alleged in Parliament that Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara was asleep after drinking at the time of the clash at the Negombo Prison, and was unaware of what was unfolding.
The claim was made during the debate on a no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Nanayakkara over the prison unrest, which left dozens of inmates dead earlier this month, according to the Daily Mirror. Ada Derana reported that the no-confidence debate against the minister was taken up in the House on July 24.
“The Minister was not aware of what was going on,” Archchuna told the chamber, adding that he would return to Parliament in 2029 and ensure the minister was jailed.
Government MP Wasantha Samarasinghe rejected the allegation, defending the minister’s conduct during and after the incident. “These MPs speak as if they put soda into the Minister’s drink,” he said. “The Minister performed his duty after the clash. He did everything for the victims of the clash.”
The Negombo Prison clash, in which 28 inmates died, has become one of the most politically charged episodes of the year, prompting an autopsy inquiry, compensation pledges and the Opposition’s failed bid to unseat the Justice Minister. The latest exchange underscores the continuing pressure on Nanayakkara as scrutiny of the events surrounding the deaths persists.
