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
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Friday, September 1, 2017
AG can’t act hastily -Thalatha
Cases against wrongdoers of previous regime
Dr. Wijeyadasa
By Shamindra Ferdinando-August 31, 2017, 11:27 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando-August 31, 2017, 11:27 pm
Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale yesterday stressed that her
predecessor Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, had been removed solely due
to him violating collective cabinet responsibility in respect of the
leasing of Hambantota port to China.
Sri Lanka and China finalized the agreement on a 99-year lease on July 29, 2017.
Atukorale will continue to hold the foreign employment portfolio in addition to Justice.
Declaring that the agreement had been finalized in accordance with the
instructions and advise received from the Attorney General,
attorney-at-law Atukorale said that one person couldn’t under any
circumstances challenge a cabinet decision.
Minister Atukorale said so in response to a query by The Island whether
she could confirm the UNP demanded Rajapakse’s removal over him
challenging the validity of the Hambantota port agreement and holding up
investigations into high profile cases involving the Rajapaksas and
those loyal to them.
When pressed for a response to the second allegation, Atukorale stressed
that the UNP only faulted Rajapakse for acting contrary to collective
cabinet responsibility.
Athukorale asserted perhaps Rajapakse couldn’t have comprehend the terms of the port agreement.
Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was among senior officials who
met the new Justice Minister before she addressed the media.
Asked by The Island whether she had at least inquired from her former
cabinet colleague to find out what had gone wrong after she received
justice portfolio from President Maithripala Sirisena on Aug. 25,
Atukorale said that there was no requirement to do so.
SLFP/UPFA MP Rajapakse switched allegiance to the UNP in mid Nov 2007.
Athukorale said that she knew Rajapakse since 1977 and never felt the need to clarify matters from the former cabinet colleague.
Atukorale denied allegations regarding delays and lapses on the part of
Attorney General’s Department as well as interference in presidential
commission of inquiry into alleged Central Bank-Perpetual Treasuries
bond scams.
The first woman justice minister acknowledged the need to inquire into allegations regardless of who made them targeting whom.
Atukorale said the Attorney General couldn’t hastily act in respect of
investigations conducted by law enforcement authorities into various
cases.
Responding to another query, Atukorale said the setting up of trial at
bar to expedite cases could be taken by the Chief Justice on a request
made by the Attorney General.
Those who had been severely critical of the Attorney General’s
Department today never uttered a word when former President Mahinda
Rajapaksa brought it under his purview, Atukorale said. The minister
chided the media for not having the guts to take on the previous
government though they now enjoyed the freedom thanks to yahapalana
policies.
Commenting on National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s
recent accusation that she had received orders from the government to
remand ten Joint Opposition members of parliament in the run-up to next
local government or provincial council polls, Atukorale said that gang
of thieves called the JO had directed corruption charges at PM
Wickremesinghe and several other ministers, including Kabir Hashim,
Malik Samarawickrema and herself.
Atukorale alleged that the then Minister Weerawansa had been one of
those who took ‘policy’ decisions. The UNPer said that the likes of
Weerawansa couldn’t remember the days when decisions regarding the
executive and the judiciary were taken at one place.
Minister Atukorale and Secretary to the Justice Ministry Padmasiri
Jayamanne refrained from responding to The Island query whether PC
Rajapakse got into trouble over an exchange of words with UN Special
Rapporteur Ben Emmerson in mid July.
Atukorale said she would discuss and examine accountability issues with
her officials before deciding on talks with the Foreign Ministry as well
as other institutions, including the Army. Atukorale said so when The
Island asked her whether she would take a fresh look at war crimes
allegations, including the claim more than 40,000 Tamil civilians were
massacred on the Vanni east front in 2009.
Atukorale said that the armed forces wouldn’t be subjected to foreign
jurisdiction under any circumstances. The minister said that the
government took tangible measures to protect the interests of the armed
forces whereas the former President claimed of an attempt to drag him to
non existent electric chair.
When The Island pointed out that Geneva Resolution 30/1 that had been
co-sponsored by the incumbent government on Oct 1, 2015 made specific
reference to foreign judges, including those from the Commonwealth, the
Minister said that she would like to see the relevant document.
..........................................................
Wijeyadasa’s deputy sorry minister had to go
Deputy Minister of Justice and SLFPer Sarathi Dushmantha Mithrapala
yesterday paid a glowing tribute to the leadership given by former
Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, since the change of
government in January 2015.
MP Mithrapala said that he was sorry and sad about Dr. Rajapakse having
to lose justice portfolio over what he called cabinet controversy. The
Kegalle District MP was responding to The Island query as to how he felt
about Rajapakse being kicked out.
The Deputy Minister said that during Rajapakse’s tenure as the minister,
the Justice Ministry had received the appreciation of the judiciary.
Mithrapala said he was happy new minister Thalatha Atukorale was from
his province though he regretted the fate that befell Rajapakse (SF)