A group of US-based Sri Lankan professionals yesterday recalled the lawlessness during the Rajapaksa regime and expressed their disbelief that SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who played a key role in that era could now campaign for votes with the promise that he would behave differently if elected.
Former Consul General of Sri Lanka for Western States of USA and late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s sister Swarna Gunaratne told news media yesterday that before the government change in 2015, everyone knew the deteriorating law and order situation in the country under the Rajapaksa regime.“During the Rajapaksa regime, we know what kind of law and order there was in the country. I was a victim, I faced a lot of injustice. My brother was assassinated and, fighting for justice for his death was so difficult. If not for Hirunika Premachandra’s continued struggle, Duminda Silva would have never been convicted,” she told a press briefing at the NDF campaign centre, Vauxhall Street, Colombo.
“Now Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is saying that once be becomes President, he will release war heroes. This shows that he will take the law into his own hands and release whoever he wants as he did before.”
She further stated, during Rajapaksa regime, this was a lawless nation, “For instance see how he removed the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake overnight, There were many other lawless activities that took place.
“There are two TV channels, which are glorifying Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s campaign because those two channels will benefit from him if he comes to power. One channel is working tirelessly for Rajapaksa’s campaign, so in return, the channel head can get his brother out of prison. After he comes to power how will our country have a proper justice system? How will law and order prevail in this country? Without law and order, any country cannot develop,” the California-based professional declared comparing her experience of strict law and order in her country of domicile with the lawlessness she experienced during the Rajapaksa years in Sri Lanka.
She added: “People must recognise and prevent dangerous people like him from being elected. We need to see that democracy and law and order in this country prevails. Before he tries to instil discipline in others, he must know discipline. He must follow the rule and law of the country. Look at the status of his citizenship! Any rule-based society must be equal to all. This preferential treatment should stop; everyone must come under one law. No one will have confidence in the system when the rule of law is dispensed with.”
“He is fooling the people. The whole citizenship process takes one to one and a half years. I was told in April that he was in Los Angles for friend’s wedding. It was only after coming back to Sri Lanka in April that he applied for the renunciation of his American citizenship. How can the process happen so quickly? He is fooling the people,” she said.
Add new comment