• Claims arrest is first step of bigger political witch-hunt
• Says that Govt. aims to contain, intimidate with arrests 
• Charges Police did not follow due process during arrest

 By Nuwan Senarathna

A group of United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarians yesterday criticised the decision to arrest MP and former Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka, calling it the first step of a broader political witch-hunt aimed at gaining political mileage for the forthcoming General Election.

MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara   – Pix by Shehan Gunasekara

Speaking to media at a private venue near the party headquarters, MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara charged the Government was attempting to oppress the Opposition ahead of the upcoming General Election.

“This is an unacceptable move by the Government. It is obvious that the Government is trying to contain Opposition MPs. This is a bad sign for the country’s future, therefore I call the public to stand against the Government’s political witch-hunt,” Bandara stressed.

The Government’s recent activities point to them returning to continue practices of the previous Rajapaksa administration of 2005, Bandara opined. According to Bandara, the UNP will stand against the arrest of Ranawaka and will fight against the Government’s political witch-hunt.

He argued the Police did not follow acceptable procedure to arrest Ranawaka. “There is an accepted procedure to arrest a Parliamentarian.  The police should obtain a warrant and inform the Speaker prior to the arrest. However, the police did not inform Speaker Karu Jayasuriya regarding the arrest, which cannot be accepted,” Bandara charged.

Addressing the press, MP Thalatha Atukorale expressed her displeasure on the arrest of Ranawaka. “I cannot accept the way the Police arrested Champika Ranawaka. But we have faith in the Judiciary, and hope justice will be served. Meanwhile, we as a party will stand against this behaviour of the Government,” she charged.   Atukorale questioned why the Police rushed to arrest Ranawaka late in the evening on Wednesday. She noted such behaviour by the Police could not be accepted.

Athukorala argued that the previous administration did not follow such practices, and claimed they followed accepted procedures to investigate any case. “We did not influence law enforcement agencies. We committed to protect the neutrality of the Police,” she claimed.

She also charged the Government had destabilised the Police Commission, which was established by the previous Government following the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Ranawaka was arrested in connection to his involvement in a 2016 road accident, which caused permanent damage to the victim. It has been alleged that the CCTV footage of the accident was deleted at the behest of Ranawaka, a charge that he has however continuously denied.

Bail rejected, Ranawaka remanded till 24. Dec.

Ranawaka’s arrest in breach of Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act: Speaker’s Office

Govt. says no witch-hunt against political opponents