Harshana Nanayakkara resignation calls are rejected as the Justice Minister defends the response to the deadly Negombo Prison unrest.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has rejected Harshana Nanayakkara resignation demands following the deadly Negombo Prison unrest, insisting he will not step down under opposition pressure.
The Minister made the remarks while delivering his response during the parliamentary debate on the incident. He described the situation inside the prison as horrific and comparable to a warlike environment.
Nanayakkara said he was not someone who avoided responsibility. He said he accepted moral responsibility for what happened and would work to correct shortcomings within the system.
However, the Minister argued that resignation should not automatically follow political accusations of failure.
“If someone should resign due to failure, I think the Opposition Leader should be the first to resign. Because if he had been successful, he should be sitting in the President’s chair today, not there,” the Minister stated.
Harshana Nanayakkara Resignation Calls Rejected
The Minister said the situation inside Negombo Prison had developed into an extremely dangerous environment. He praised prison officers for risking their lives while trying to bring the violence under control.
Nanayakkara also recalled that some officers were still receiving treatment in intensive care units.
He argued that the commitment shown by those officers was far greater than that of opposition members giving instructions from air-conditioned rooms.
The Justice Minister also addressed severe overcrowding within Sri Lanka’s prisons. He said the problem had existed for between 10 and 20 years.
Therefore, Nanayakkara argued, neither one minister nor one government could resolve the crisis alone.
He also rejected opposition allegations concerning prison facilities. The Minister said those claims were false and added that construction work remained underway.
Nanayakkara assured Parliament that authorities would conduct a full investigation into the Negombo Prison incident.
He said officials would strictly enforce the law if the investigation uncovered any illegal acts. The Minister also pledged that authorities would take necessary measures to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
‘Only the President Can Remove Me’
Despite pressure from several quarters, the Justice Minister maintained his position on the Harshana Nanayakkara resignation demands.
Nanayakkara said he would not surrender to pressure and resign from office.
The Minister stated that only the President could remove him from his position. He added that he was prepared to leave the Justice Ministry only if the President instructed him to do so.
Meanwhile, Nanayakkara revealed that the committee appointed to investigate the prison clash was conducting its inquiries with a high degree of independence.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the violence and the events that unfolded inside the prison.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of testimony from inmates injured during the clash.
According to Nanayakkara, statements from injured inmates who received hospital treatment will provide crucial evidence. He said their testimony could help ensure the success of the wider investigation and uncover the truth behind the incident.
The Minister’s parliamentary response made clear that he intends to remain in office while the investigation continues. At the same time, he maintained that authorities must identify any illegal actions and enforce the law against those responsible.
The Harshana Nanayakkara resignation controversy is therefore likely to remain part of the political debate surrounding the Negombo Prison incident. However, the Minister has made his position clear: he will remain in office unless the President decides otherwise.
