Govt. brings various topics to divert attention: GL

The government is coming up with a new topic every week to divert the attention of the public from the real plights the country is going through, the Joint Opposition (JO) said yesterday.

Addressing a news briefing, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman G.L. Peiris said the New York Times article and former state minister Vijayakala Maheswaran’s statement were such topics.“even the death penalty was brought up to divert the attention from the issues in the country. Death penalty cannot be implemented when the convicts have made appeals. Doesn’t the government know that Sri Lanka has supported certain international

instruments which

Even the death penalty was brought up to divert the attention from the issues in the country. Death penalty cannot be implemented when the convicts have made appeals

denounce death penalty?,” he asked.

He said the Prime Minister’s statement that there was a possible submarine warfare and the Glyphosate issue were the latest topics put forward by the government.

Meanwhile, Professor Peiris commented on the proposed special court to hear cases of large scale corruptions and said the Central Bank bond scam should be the first case the court should hear, followed by the Kerawalapitiya power plant tender issue.“special courts and commissions are a stain in the history of Sri Lanka. Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s civic rights were stripped off from a special commission. The government is targeting to silence former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and other political opponents in the wake of the February 10 election victory of the

SLPP,” he said. .