Nation Building Minister Jagath Pushpakumara yesterday (17) requested the Speaker to provide security to Leader of Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe who he claimed had been held forcibly by a group of MPs of his own party inside a committee room in the Parliament complex.

Minister Pushpakumara, raising a privilege issue soon after the commencement of Public Business, said that the UNP Parliamentary Group meeting had turned into a mini battle and there were reports that the opposition leader had been physically assaulted.

"The Speaker must look after the security of members inside the Parliament premises," he said.

The UNP MPs were holding the Opposition leader against his will inside a committee room downstairs and some other UNP MPs were guarding the passage leading to the entrance of the committee room, he said.

Ministers Mervyn Silva and Mahinda Ratnatilake said that they had seen some UNP MPs exchanging blows.

As a UNP group meeting was in progress none of the UNP MPs turned up inside the Chamber until 11 a.m.

UNP sources said that the main issue discussed at the group meeting was the replacement of the party leader with someone who could win elections. The MPs were divided on the Wickremesinghe issue.

UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne proposed that Wickremesinghe should step down. His proposal was seconded by MP Ranjith Maddumabandara.

As the division developed from verbal tirades to fisticuffs the proposal made and seconded failed to have any effect, sources said.

Then the MPs opposing Wickremesinghe demanded that a vote should be taken and if their suggestion won through Wickremesinghe must step down.

The meeting was later adjourned for 5 p.m.