SJB MP Jagath Vithana delivered an emotional and tearful speech in Parliament today (22), expressing deep distress over the recent arrest of his son, allegedly over a vehicle sold to him by the daughter of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena.
“I’m under immense pressure. I’m shaken,” Vithana said, visibly moved. “A few days ago, I bought a used vehicle. On Friday evening, while my son was driving it, the police stopped him and arrested him. This didn’t even make the news. It was a deeply unfair arrest.”
Vithana revealed that he had travelled to Parliament at least ten times in the same vehicle and that the registration process was completed under his company’s name. “I had no idea there was a legal issue with the vehicle. If I had been told, I would have immediately handed it over or gone to give a statement. I bought the vehicle in good faith, from a former powerful minister and a current MP.”
He said he called MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena to express his shock. “I told him I’ve been treated unfairly. He said he wasn’t aware of the situation, but that the vehicle was sold by his daughter. The ownership had already been transferred to my son, and it was registered properly. But today, my son is eating prison food. He’s in remand with no bail granted. I visited him yesterday.”
Vithana went on to say that his son refused special privileges in prison. “He won’t accept any special treatment. That’s how he was raised. This is painful for me as a father. When he was arrested, I told them to take me instead—the vehicle is registered under my company. But they didn’t arrest me. In front of me, they processed everything and took my son. He has now been remanded for 14 days. Unless the previous owner comes forward, we can’t do anything.”
Fighting back tears, he added, “This is unbearable. My son has two small children—three and two years old. They ask me where their father is, and I have no answer.”
While the Deputy Speaker cautioned Vithana not to comment on matters pending before court, the MP insisted he was not interfering with the judicial process but appealing for justice and fairness.
“I know I may not receive justice,” he said. “But I don’t want this kind of injustice to happen to anyone else. I can lose money, I can lose the vehicle. I can even be imprisoned. But what happens to a poor man, a public servant, who goes through this kind of injustice? That’s what I’m asking today.”
He urged authorities to use their power with restraint and compassion. “I’m not criticising the judiciary. But I have no other platform to speak. I’ll say more once my son is released on bail.”
Vithana also criticised a recent media statement by the Cabinet Spokesperson, which claimed that both he and MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena were aware of the situation. “That kind of statement is deeply painful. We are 225 MPs in this House. We may argue and debate, but we are all like siblings. We must treat each other with basic respect and humanity.”
Closing his speech, Withana reminded the House of his long-standing commitment to public service. “I came from a rural background. I served my people with dedication. I don’t know whether I was ever given a medal for it, but I gave the best years of my life to serve my constituency with honesty.”
