Sajith accuses RW of protecting culprits of SL’s financial collapse

Thursday, 14 December 2023 04:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Calls SC decision on those responsible for SL’s economic collapse ‘revolutionary’
Says President could have established a Special Presidential Commission and stripped those named of their civic rights
Claims it is not a possibility as legislature and executive have pledged to safeguard the Rajapaksas
Assures an SJB Govt. will enact necessary changes and bring back stolen assets

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has alleged that President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government are shielding the Rajapaksas, who have been identified as accountable for the economic collapse of the country, as evidenced by a recent Supreme Court decision.

Speaking at an event titled ‘Voice for Justice’ held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Tuesday, Premadasa said the court decision was revolutionary and revealed the faces of those who bankrupted the country.

“The country’s independent judiciary took a significant step towards justice at a time when the executive and the legislature failed to address the corruption of rulers who played a role in bankrupting the nation,” he said.

Premadasa suggested that in response to the decision, the legislature and executive should have prioritised the interests of the people. He proposed that the President could have established a Special Presidential Commission, relying on the Fundamental Rights petition filed against those implicated. “If subsequent inquiries by the commission further validated the court’s decision, the responsible individuals could have been stripped of their civic rights,” he said.

“But this scenario is unlikely to unfold, given that the current legislature and executive have pledged to safeguard the Rajapaksas, who are responsible for bankrupting the country,” he added.

Premadasa emphasised the need for state agencies to operate independently and transparently, free from any political interference or meddling by the President. He asserted that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Government under his leadership would enact the necessary changes to achieve this goal.

The opposition leader claimed a system will be instituted to reclaim the resources lost to the country from those proven to be involved in corruption. He emphasised that there would be no necessity to raise VAT under this approach.

“The current Government has the capability to enact these changes, but they are under the control of dishonest individuals. This Government must be ousted, and a new Government, capable of reclaiming stolen assets for the country, must be elected. To put an end to the era of looting public property and funds, let’s unite, setting aside all divisions,” he remarked.

Govt.’s way is the only way President tells Parliament