JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — Ramanathan Archchuna, a controversial Jaffna District M.P., was arrested on Monday after he was accused of brandishing a firearm during a land dispute in Periyavilaan, the police said.
The arrest follows the circulation of video footage, reviewed by Jaffna Monitor, that appears to show Mr. Archchuna pointing a handgun during a confrontation with a group of residents, including women.
Police said one of the women involved in the dispute was also arrested and remanded by court order. She remains in custody with her one-year-old child, as she is a breastfeeding mother, according to officials. Authorities did not provide further details on the charges against her.
According to the police, the confrontation occurred when Mr. Archchuna visited a plot of land he claims to own and began clearing it. Judicial sources said the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court had previously issued an order recognizing his claim and permitting construction work. Another party disputed the ownership, leading to a confrontation.
Witnesses said the dispute escalated when a group of women confronted the lawmaker at the site. Video footage that has since circulated appears to show objects being thrown during the altercation. During the exchange, Mr. Archchuna, appearing agitated, is seen producing a firearm and directing it toward those present.
Police officials said he was arrested on charges related to the public display and alleged misuse of a firearm.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the arrested woman, a member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), had previously raised concerns about the condition of the land, including overgrowth and the presence of snakes. They said she returned to the site with others when Mr. Archchuna began clearing it after a court order recognized his ownership, and asserted a competing claim to part of the property.
Mr. Archchuna, speaking in a live video on Facebook after the incident, said a group had entered the property and disrupted his work, and that stones had been thrown at him. He said he used his firearm — which he described as having been issued by the Defence Ministry — because he believed his safety was under threat, adding that he had no intention of harming anyone.
Legal experts say that even in cases involving perceived threats, the public display of a firearm in a civilian dispute may constitute a criminal offense under Sri Lankan law.
The episode has also renewed scrutiny of the long-standing practice of issuing firearms to elected representatives for personal protection. Under Sri Lanka’s Firearms Ordinance, authorities have the power to suspend or revoke such licenses if possession is deemed a risk to public safety.
Residents said the use of a firearm during what is typically a civil land dispute had unsettled the community.
Mr. Archchuna is expected to be produced before the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police said further investigations are ongoing.
