Will restore people’s trust in the rule of law - President pledges

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (21) said that it was the government’s responsibility to establish a free and democratic State where everyone can live without fear and suspicion. He pledged that the new government under him would ensure this outcome.

The President made the pledge while delivering his Statement of Government Policy during the inaugural sitting of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament. 

One main factor in achieving the above aim is reestablishing rule of law in the country, the President added. Rule of Law cannot be achieved by legislation passed in the House alone, said the President. He pointed out that Parliament has passed progressive legislation after lengthy discussions. However, passing such legislation alone is not enough. They should be properly implemented. 

“People should feel that the law is being implemented. However, the people’s trust in the law has collapsed. They do not have confidence that they will receive justice by going before the law over an injustice suffered by them."

The President insisted that no politician or person in authority will henceforth be considered above the law. 

President Dissanayake said the government had no intention of chasing after or hunting anyone. "We will ensure that everyone can practice whatever political viewpoint they choose," he stressed.

However, he pointed out that many controversial crimes have happened in Sri Lanka. "If the perpetrators of these crimes believe that they can escape justice by relying on these crimes to be buried in the sands of time, that is a collapse of the people’s trust in the rule of law. If we are to rebuild trust in the rule of law, these controversial crimes must be investigated and justice must be done for the victims, with the perpetrators being punished." 

He pointed out that such crimes have been used as slogans on the political stage, but governments that came to power failed to bring justice to the victims. He promised that his government will reveal the perpetrators of these controversial crimes, bring them before the law and provide justice for the victims. 

"We need a State where law, justice and fairness prevail. If we fail to establish such a State at least through this mandate, there is no point in us even dreaming about such a State," the President added.