Civil activists express shock and disappointment
The Movement for a Just Society and the Purawesi Balaya Movement that toiled for the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday condemned and expressed their displeasure over the recent statement of the President regarding the CID, FCID and the Bribery Commission.
Calling a media conference in Colombo, the civil society movements had boycotted a meeting scheduled to be held with the President at 12 noon yesterday at Presidential Secretariat regarding the much contentious statement which created a storm in Sri Lanka politics.
Purawesi Balaya Movement Co-convener Saman Rathnapriya said there was no need to inform the President or the Prime Minister on the developments of ongoing investigations and prosecution in advance. If so, it would obviously tantamount to an unnecessary political inference, he said.
While questioning the difference between questioning the general public and those involved in the Defence Sector, Mr. Rathnapriya said the law should be applied equally to everyone with no double standards.
“The three former commanders of the Navy and Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa were summoned to the Court since they were suspects in the Avant Garde case filed by the Bribery Commission.what is the big deal about it? It is regrettable how the President is eyeing to meddle in affairs of the Independent Commissions such as Bribery Commission. Can they be called independent anymore? ,” Rathnapriya asked.
He also said this shocking statement which should not be made by a President would negatively impact on the morale of state officers attached to the CID, FCID and Bribery Commission.
He charged that the promised legal process against corrupt individuals would come to a standstill as a result of losing morale among the officers involved in the anti-corruption network.
He categorically said that none of the mentioned law enforcement state institutions were complying with political agendas. “We are also aware that some ministers of the current government are influencing investigations on certain cases to defend their affiliates. However, if the President had an issue, he should have discussed with relevant authorities. There is no point of telling those issues in public. Further, this could damage the international image that was built after ages as a country which stand against corruption, illegal political interference and misuse of power,” he added. Meanwhile, Professor Sarath Wijesuriya, the Convener for the National Movement for a Just Society also criticized President Sirisena’s statement that had shocked all of them.
Around 100 artistes of Purawesi Balaya Movement, who were to attend a meeting with President Sirisena yesterday evening on concerns of arts, decided to boycott the meeting as a mark of protest over the controversial statement.