A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Saturday, July 8, 2017
Sagala counters President’s tirade against police
Minister Ratnayake addressing the media at Temple Trees
Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake, MP,
has stoutly defended the police in the wake of President Maithripala
Sirisena’s onslaught against them at the last Cabinet meeting.
Addressing the media at the Temple Trees on Thursday (June 6), Minister
Ratnayake emphasised that he had fulfilled his responsibilities 100 per
cent and was satisfied with the performance of the institutions under
him.
The UNPer said so in response to questions regarding President
Maithripala Sirisena’s claim that the police had failed in their duty.
Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said he had asked the
President to take over those institutions which had failed to haul up at
least a single former SLFP heavyweight before courts for bribery and
corruption.
The UNP and the SLFP shared defence and law and order portfolios with
President Maithripala Sirisena taking defence and Ratnayake receiving
law and order in addition to Southern Development.
Minister Ratnayake, who is also the Chief of Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe's staff, didn't mince his words when he said that
unsubstantiated allegations were being directed at law enforcement
authorities.
Temple Trees called Thursday's briefing to explain the objectives of a
three-day SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)
meeting in Colombo commencing from July 11.
Minister Ratnayake said that though he was confident that he had carried
out his duties and functions properly in the present capacity, he was
ready to accept any other portfolio.
Fielding more questions from journalists, Minister Ratnayake said he
would call a separate briefing to explain the situation with permission
from President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Minister Ratnayake declared that he didn't have anything to hide and was
concerned about his self-respect. The institutions tasked with
investigations and the follow-up action had been free to operate without
political interference, he added. The government expected them to
function independently and as the minister in charge of the portfolio he
wouldn't under any circumstances interfere in their work.
However, the civil society organisation that campaigned for Maithripala
Sirisena and the UNP at January and August 2015 presidential and
parliamentary polls, respectively, yesterday backed President Sirisena’s
condemnation of the police. However, the grouping rejected President
Sirisena's assertion that he could achieve success within three months
in case failed institutions were placed under him.
Gamini Viyangoda of Purawesi Balaya told The Island that the top UNP and
SLFP leadership had caused irreparable damage to the yahapalana cause
by not heeding their advice.
The National Movement for Just Society (NMJS) and Purawesi Balaya had
repeatedly requested President Sirisena to strip Ratnayake and Justice
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse of their portfolios, Viyangoda said. Those
ministers had interfered in investigations and in some instance went
out of their way to protect those who had been in power before, he
added. The civil society activist said President Sirisena and Prime
Minister Wickremesinghe couldn't absolve themselves of responsibility
for the current sorry state of affairs. Responding to a query, Viyangoda
said: "Ministers in charge of law and order as well as Justice are
responsible for the inordinate delay in bringing high profile
investigations to a successful conclusion. We have requested at least on
six occasions to remove Ratnayake and Rajapakse this year."
Viyangoda said civil society felt that President Sirisena shouldn't take
over those so-called failed institutions, including the Attorney
General's Department. He recalled that former President Mahinda
Rajapaksa had brought the Attorney General's department under the
latter’s purview.
Viyangoda also pointed out what he called the absurdity of the
government accommodating UNP National List MP and former Attorney
General Tilak Marapana in the Cabinet in spite of his close relationship
with the Avant Garde Maritime Services (AGMS) under a cloud. He added
that yahapalana leaders should be ashamed of accommodating former
foreign affairs minister Rohitha Bogollagama. "Having condemned waste
and irregularities under the previous regime, the government has
appointed Bogollagama the Governor of the Eastern Province," he said.
The civil society member hailed the recent appointment of Lt. Gen.
Mahesh Senanayake as the army commander, Kapila Waidyaratne, PC, and
former Additional Solicitor General as the Defence Secretary and
experienced civil servant Austin Fernando as the Secretary to the
President. "Why on earth, did President accommodate Bogollagama, a
person rejected by people at the last general election in August 2015?"
Viyangoda said that those rejected by people shouldn't be accommodated
through National List in parliament or given key posts.