Minister Nalinda Jayatissa dismissed opposition claims, stressing that Mohamed Ibrahim, father of two Easter bombers, was never a JVP member and that national list picks do not come from party rank and file.
Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa clarified during the Cabinet media briefing that businessman Mohamed Ibrahim was never a member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
Responding to a heated opposition query, the Minister pointed out that it is not party members themselves who nominate names for the national list during a parliamentary election. “Ibrahim is not part of our membership,” Nalinda firmly stated, rejecting accusations that the JVP had shielded him.
The opposition had raised the issue as to why Ibrahim’s ties to the party were not formally severed, particularly since the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) recently expelled a member linked to raw materials in the massive Middeniya drug scandal.
Mohamed Ibrahim entered Parliament in 2015 through the JVP’s national list, despite not being a registered member of the party. His name re-emerged in controversy following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, as he was identified as the father of two of the main suicide bombers.
Arrested in the aftermath of the bombings, Ibrahim now faces indictments before the High Court. He is currently out on bail while legal proceedings continue.
The Minister’s remarks reignited debate over how national list nominees are chosen, and why loopholes allow figures without direct party affiliation to gain a seat in Parliament. The revelation is certain to fuel further political fire over accountability, party structures, and the shadow of Easter Sunday’s tragedy.
