“We have our hopes with the govt.” -Gamini Viyangoda Convener- Purawasi Balaya

The 19th Amendment which curtailed the power of the executive president and the establishment of the independent commissions to have a proper, efficient, public service without political influence.“then there is the constitutional council which is an independent body. The Right to Information Act has been implemented,” he added.

“As a whole I believe there is an atmosphere of freedom. Anyone can criticize the President, Prime Minister or the government without fear of being harmed. We didn’t have this freedom during the previous regime where we can draw examples of media persons being abducted, and murdered. That situation has changed now,” he said.

“This is seen today in how demonstrations are held on a daily basis by doctors, students, and various trade unions. So you can see the democratic freedom exercised by a vast majority of our population which opened up after this government came to power,’ he remarked.

Commenting on the negative aspect of the current government Viyangoda said that the people are very much dissatisfied with the government for not bringing to book those alleged to have been involved in mega deals during the previous regime. “But up till now nothing has been done except the prosecution of certain individuals who are kept in remand and later bailed out. No single case has been completed. No one has been convicted except Duminda Silva who was accused of murder. This was not organized by the government of that time. It was an individual who was involved. That is why the law was not obstructed,” he said.

“They said that billions of money was squandered by the previous government. You don’t see anybody being brought before courts,” he added.

He noted that there was delay in bringing the new constitution. “We have pledged to the international community on the transitional justice process. Under this process we have been obliged to open the Office of Missing Persons. Though the act was passed in parliament, the office has not been opened. As far as the new constitution is concerned they have appointed six sub committees and a main committee. But it seems that everything has come to a standstill,’ he said.

“Two years have passed but still there is doubt about the new constitution and the devolution of power as the solution to the ethnic friction. Yet, we have our hopes with the government. There are so many practical problems in making this a reality which we can understand. At the same time we have some suspicion that high ups in the new government are interfering in certain investigations which are going on. If our politicians can keep away from those investigations justice can be meted out very soon. That is what the people expect from the government.” he added.

They said that billions of money was squandered by the previous government. You don’t see anybody being brought before courts