President Sirisena’s criticism of corruption investigating bodies has drawn a sharp response from civil society representatives, who held a media briefing yesterday to condemn the remarks and attempts to demoralise the Bribery Commission and Police.

Speaking to reporters at the news conference, Co-convenor of late Sobitha Thero’s National Movement for a Just Soeicty and trade union leader Saman Ratnapriya said the remarks were “deeply problematic.”

“The whole country is shaken by these statements,” Ratnapriya charged, adding that President Sirisena’s remarks seemed to be a throwback to the Rajapaksa era. He urged President Sirisena to ‘go back and read the Yahapalanaya manifesto”.

Ratnapriya said the Purawesi Balaya was expressing “disgust” and condemnation of the President’s remarks.

Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya who is also a co-convenor of the powerful civil society group, said that in a mark of protest against the President’s speech, artistes attached to the civil society movement would boycott a meeting for artistes President Sirisena had convened last evening (14).

“We stand with the officials investigating these corruption cases,” Prof. Wijesooriya asserted.

Co-convenor of Purawesi Balaya and senior academic Dr. Gamini Viyangoda noted that it was also important to observe the tone of the President’s statements on Wednesday. “Even his mood during that speech showed the country that he was opposing corrupt individuals being brought before the law,” Dr Viyangoda noted.

“Why do we need independent commissions if the President must be told every time someone is going to be taken to court? What kind of independence is that? Is that what the 19th Amendment brought about?” he added.

Purawesi Balaya and partner groups played a major role in mobilising support for President Sirisena’s candidacy in the January 2015 presidential election.

Courtesy:Daily FT