Opposition claims Govt on a political agenda in a repressive manner

Opposition political parties today blamed the government for what they called carrying out its ‘political agenda in a repressive manner, depriving the country of democracy and freedom’.

Represetnatives of main opposition parties held a joint press conference to express their protest against some of the recent arrests including that of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe claiming they were revengeful action by the government.

The oppostion press conference theme was 'Lets defeat the Constitutional Dictatorship'.

A joint opposition statement too was released on the issue.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former ministers champika Ranawaka, SLmc leader Rauf Hakeem, MP Namal Rajapaksa, MP dayasiri Jayasekra, MP Kawinda Jayawardena , MP Manu Ganesan and several other party represtatives were present at the event.

Opposition parlty leaders conemn the manner in which former President Wickremesinghe was treated .

Excerpts of the Opposition statement :

“…Accordingly, the police, the Bribery and Corruption Investigation Commission are operating in a manner designed to suppress, subjugate and silence political party leaders and activists, breaking the independence that should be placed in a state mechanism. We believe that by filling investigative institutions with their political cronies, they are cowering the government to the monopoly and monopolistic power and authority by suppressing the independence that should be upheld in the state machinery.

It is our understanding that, given the current situation in the country, the government has no alternative but to subdue the growing opposition to their governance.

It is not easy to draw a clear line between the official and personal expenses of a head of state. However, the remand of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in prison after reporting the facts to the court on an allegation for which the investigation has not yet been completed is a process that 'undermines multi-party politics and democracy'.

By remanding the accused for a non-bailable offence in an environment where investigations are not complete will contribute to the long-term breakdown of the rule of law,

Public confidence in the transparency of independent investigative processes conducted by statutory institutions, including the police, will be undermined,

We express our concern regarding the potential for public confidence in the judicial process to be undermined.

It is our observation that the accusation leveled against Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe is an accusation constructed for political purposes by misinterpreting the law.

The original information on which the allegations are based was produced by the Internal Audit Division of the Presidential Secretariat. It appears that it was prepared on the advice of JVP activists and was maliciously and politically motivated to implicate Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The internal report is not a report certified by the Auditor General of the government. Therefore, its hidden political purpose is now clear.

There are legal practices that govern how the Sri Lankan judicial system should operate. Despite this, the arrest and production of 38 witnesses in the case before the investigation is complete is contrary to the practices of the country's judicial system.

Furthermore, the allegations related to this complaint were investigated by a team led by an investigator who had held press conferences at the JVP headquarters during the last presidential election and had been recalled to service due to political necessity after retiring from regular police service.

The latter has a negative impact on democratic political activities through investigations and indictments conducted by politically appointed investigators based on information and evidence created for political purposes.

The arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe and the remand in custody for a non-bailable offense is an anti-multi-party state practice that amounts to a constitutional monopoly.

We emphasize that the state machinery must be guided to protect multi-party democracy, political freedom and the right to hold political opinions. We hereby express our strong opposition and concern against this process.

We, as active political leaders, condemn this entire process with deep disgust.”

Pix by M.A.Pushpakumara

UNP's Ms Thalatha Athukorale reads out a statement issued by former President Chandrik Kumaratunga.