“INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY”
The United National Party (UNP) making fresh allegations against the impeachment process yesterday said the conflict of interest in the entire process extended beyond the fact that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) members were signatories to the motion.
“There are many instances of familial ties between parties investigating and others who have been a part of the impeachment process. The bias therefore goes beyond the fact that the PSC members were signatories and reaches a different level, indicating to any observer that this process was a blatant violation of the principles of natural law and justice” UNP MP and Attorney at Law Sujeewa Sensasinghe said.Speaking to the Daily Mirror the Colombo District Parliamentarian went on to question the manner in which the investigation by the Commission for Bribery and Corruption against the former Chairman of NSB and husband of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandranayake was initiated.
“It’s good that investigations were initiated, but how is it that investigations were opened into a case when in actual fact, no transaction took place? I have made many complaints against the Greek bonds issue and the EPF issue but nothing has been done to date” he said.
Senasinghe went on to add that despite the transaction being nullified the decision to invest in The Finance Company was a deci-
It’s good that investigations were initiated, but how is it that investigations were opened into a case that in actual fact, no transaction happened? The globally accepted presumption of innocent until proven guilty was turned on its head by the actions of the government
sion by the Board of NSB and asked as to what action had been taken against other members of the board. “It obviously was not a decision to be taken by an individual. It was a decision by the Board and we are still at a loss as to what action has been taken against the other members of the Board” he said.
Senasinghe said these issues were apart from the main issue in question.
“The complainant, judge and jury were all one and the same person. People like Wimal Weera- wanse were left to adjudicate the wrongdoings of the highest member of the judiciary and they conducted the process without any opposition members or the accused who ultimately left in disgust” he said.
Senasinghe added that the globally accepted presumption of innocent until proven guilty was turned on its head by the actions of the government.
“This has been a case of guilty until proven innocent. How could the chairman of this so called PSC talk publicly about this report until it is taken up for debate in parliament? Isn’t this in fact a kangaroo court reminiscent of what Gaddafi, Mugabe, Idi Amin and Mubarak?” he asked.