SLFP Gen. Secy takes on Rajitha

Rajitha Seneratne who said “will be hanged,” “should be hanged” and “everyone will be put in jail” at the weekly cabinet press briefing on Wednesday

The cabinet spokesman saying “will be hanged”, “should be hanged,” “everyone will be put in jail” at a news conference will give rise to serious questions in the minds of the people about the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary in a country like ours that is still evolving a mature political culture, SLFP General Secretary Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said yesterday.

He was referring to Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Seneratne who said “will be hanged,” “should be hanged” and “everyone will be put in jail” at the weekly cabinet press briefing on Wednesday. “I did not see him say it. I did not watch news. But if Minister Rajitha Senaratne spoke like that … it is not suitable for him to speak in an emotional manner before journalists,” Prof. Piyadasa said in Kandy.

“My opinion is that the Cabinet spokesman should not get angry or emotional. He should engage with the journalists in an intelligent manner with facts,” he said. “The President is implementing very advanced concepts to protect the independence of the judiciary. As an example it was after 30 years that a Chief Justice was appointed according to experience and seniority. At such a time if a minister says ‘will be hanged,’ ‘all will be put in jail’… it will create a notion among the people whether the freedom of the wild ass is being created in the country again,” he said. “During the recent past our Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary were going astray. The confidence of the public was shattered in them. Are we going back to such a time, is what would arise in the minds of the public,” he said.