Arrogant Sirisena Insults Judiciary

January 26, 2016

President Maithripala Sirisena’s extreme arrogance in denying charges that state officers under his command have been dragging their feet on the investigations into the killings of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda makes him liable immediately to a charge of contempt of court, Colombo Telegraph learns.

Responding to a question posed by Azzam Ameen in an interview for the BBC interview on January 24th 2016 to the effect that the court had observed the lack of collaboration by the Army Commander, the President vehemently denied the charge, saying that ‘ whoever may make such allegations, the court or whoever it may be, that is wrong.’

The statement tantamounts to a comment made during the course of an ongoing inquiry and is sub-judice. The legal rule of sub-judice prohibits the making of any statement in relation to an ongoing case which may prejudice the final outcome.

The President’s tone in making those comments were offensive and arrogant also may amount to scandalising the court which is a separate charge of contempt. “If the first citizen of the land talks in such a manner regarding the authority of court, what hope does yahapalanaya and the Rule of Law have?” an observer asked.

Is stark contrast to the lackadaisical attitude of the investigators and court regarding the murders, an arrest warrant was issued against Galagoda Atte Gnanasara yesterday, on charges of contempt of court. He has been charged with commenting, threatening, and insulting witnesses of the ongoing inquiry into the murder of Prageeth Ekneligoda.                                                                     Read More