SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has questioned President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s image of a liberal leader in view of the Government’s proposed Rehabilitation bill.

Addressing a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo on Wednesday, MP Markar said: “This bill not only proposes the rehabilitation of those addicted to drugs but also suggests protestors, extremists and those involved in destructive acts. We have a President and a Prime Minister who admitted their wrongs and vacated their posts. Is it them or youth who are fighting on the street for the people of this country who should be rehabilitated?

Pointing out that there have been instances in the country’s history where youth were sent to rehabilitation camps such as following the 1971 JVP resurrection and following the war according to orders given by the courts, Markar questioned who will now decide as to who should be rehabilitated. “Is it the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence? Or the President who is heading the Ministry of Defence?” he queried.

“While the UN has accused us of economic crimes and called on us to be accountable, what has become of our President’s liberal persona as depicted by the media? The Government is misusing the Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain student activists and harass them,” he said.The SJB MP stressed the Government must learn lessons from the country’s past and the recent events that unfolded in Sri Lanka. “The Government cannot use repression to suppress the issues faced by the people. History has taught many lessons to rulers who attempted to do this,” he noted.

Highlighting the dangers of the proposed bill, Markar said it does provide an accurate interpretation of who should be rehabilitated. “The bureau seems to seek the rehabilitation of violent protestors and certain groups that need to be rehabilitated. This could even include various political groups in this sense,” he pointed out. Markar said such proposals will only further isolate us from the international community. He called on the Government to stop its repression of the people and to allow for their democratic rights to be exercised freely.SJB Kurunegala District MP Ashok Abeysinghe also addressed the press.