News
SJB will move the SC against recommendations of PCoI on political victimization – Kiriella
by Saman Indrajith
The previous government also had the opportunity to make use of commissions to punish its political rivals, but it never resorted to such cheap tactics and adhered to the accepted legal system in the country, Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Kandy District MP, Lakshman Kiriella said last week.
“There is an accepted legal system in our country to punish anyone who has done something illegal. Making use of commissions to punish political opponents is an outdated method. We never resorted to such tactics though we could have done so during the Yahapalana government’s tenure”, he said during a news conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo.
He said there are reports to the effect that the government might use recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Political Victimization to deprive some prominent persons of their civic rights.
“This country has a legal system that has provisions to take punitive action against anyone who had committed an offence or was political victimized. The government has to abide by the law. We have set an example in this regard”, he said.
The MP added: “When we came to power in 2015, there were requests from various quarters to appoint commissions to investigate the wrongdoings of some politicians and to strip them of their civic rights. But the then President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were of the view that there was a legal system and the law should take its own course.
“They stood by the decision that there were the police, Attorney General’s Department and the judiciary, and these institutions were sufficient to implement the law. We did not appoint special presidential commissions to take action against rival political parties. Opting to make use of such commissions to punish political rivals is actually an outdated mechanism”.
Kiriella said it was former President JR Jayewardene who introduced the practice of depriving political opponents of their civic rights. That government incurred international opprobrium. That was why no government since 1981 has resorted to such action, but the incumbent government seems to be convinced otherwise.
He said that the SJB would move the Supreme Court against the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on political victimization.
The party has consulted its legal advisors to explore the possibility of filing a case against the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on political victimization for exceeding its mandate, the MP added.
The Navy taking prompt action were able to douse a fire that broke out on a fishing trawler at the Galle Fisheries Harbour on 14 Apr 25.
The blaze was first spotted by personnel on board SLNS Prathapa, stationed nearby. Acting swiftly, a diving team from the Southern Naval Command, along with harbour security personnel, rushed to the scene.
Their initial efforts focused on separating the trawler that had caught fire to prevent the flames from spreading. With the situation under partial control, the fire extinguishing system of SLNS Prathapa was activated, successfully dousing the remaining flames, through coordinated efforts of the diving and harbour security personnel.
Latest News
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 16 April 2025, valid for 17 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the table below and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
The government, in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Bar Association (BASL), has put in place a system to check lawyers entering selected courts. This follows the killing of Ganemulle Sanjeewa by an underworld hitman, masquerading as a lawyer, in one of the Magistrate Courts at Hulftsdorp, on the morning of 19 February.
Responding to The Island queries in this regard, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday (16) confirmed the new security arrangement. Minister Nanayakkara, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, declined to elaborate.
Although the police apprehended the suspected assassin, a couple of hours later, the woman, who smuggled in the firearm used in the killing, also masquerading as a lawyer, is still at large.
Newly elected BASL President, Attorney-at-Law Rajeev Amarasuriya, said that scanners had been installed at selected places in line with the security arrangements introduced, following the 19 February shooting in a court. Amarasuriya said so responding to The Island query regarding the post-Hulftsdorp Court complex shooting developments.
The BASL Chief emphasised the pivotal importance of ensuring, what he called, a hassle-free environment for law officers, regardless of security checks necessitated by the latest shooting. Amarasuriya said that security measures should be in place in accordance with threat assessments pertaining to cases taken up at various courts.
The first courtroom killing took place in Nov. 1991 when Sub Inspector Dhammika Amarasena, who had been interdicted over the Wavulkelle massacre, was shot dead while inside the Attanagalle Magistrate court. Amarasena’s father-in-law, who had been seated next to the interdicted policeman, was also killed.
The second courtroom shooting happened in January 2004 when an Army deserter shot dead Dhamamika Amarasinghe inside the Hulftsdorp court complex. Although Dhammika Amarasinghe’s killer gained entry to the court, posing off as a law student, authorities never implemented a comprehensive security plan. However, in the wake of Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s killing, acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, who is also a lawyer, underscored the need to check law officers.
The BASL President said that they were still in the developing stage of the security set up, taking into consideration views expressed by various stakeholders. Referring to Ganemulle Sanjeewa’s assassin carrying a forged BASL identity card, Amarasuriya stressed the need to use technology in counter measures to thwart such practices.
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