There is a saying to the effect that when you go to sleep with dogs you will have to wake up with ticks. The PA government is now in a similar situation.
It is clear that the government had followed a policy of promoting the emergence of a particular group of local political leaders. A restrained, educated and experienced person like Dr. Jagath Balasuriya was of no importance to the government. Those who were important to the government were local leaders who have the capability to act like thugs. There is no doubt that the reason for this is lack of confidence in the people who elect the government.
The strength of a politician of this category depended on thuggery. That strength is derived from well known criminals of the area.
In addition to indulging in criminal activities on behalf of their political masters who provide them protection, they also indulge in their own criminal activities, taking refuge under political protection. Because these groups have indulged in criminal activities on behalf of politicians and also because they need the help of these groups in future elections, politicians always follow a policy of protecting them even when they commit crimes in their own personal interest.
Due to immense power enjoyed by the local political leaders, the local police do not have the clout to go against persons who function as political henchmen. Often the head of the local police has connections with the local political leader. As a result, protection to the closest henchmen of the local political boss has become the official policy of each police station.
Although the President has said that a group of opportunistic and power hungry persons were responsible for the distractions at Mawanella, the real responsibility should go to the violent followers of minister Herath. Whether minister Herath was in Sri Lanka at the time of the incident is not significant. A group of persons who are functioning under minister Herath’s political shadow have been exacting tribute from the people of this area for some time. When complained, the police followed a policy of ignoring those complaints because the alleged culprits were close to the minister.
At night on April 30, some people forced themselves into Zahira hotel near the Mawanella bus stand and demanded tribute.
When the cashier had refused to pay the tribute they demanded, the result was that the cashier was taken out of the hotel, tied to the Premadasa statue which was close by, assaulted and his belly was cut.
This incident roused the people of the area and, when the police failed to take action the anger of the people was directed against the police. They surrounded the police and started protesting. The response of the police was to attack them in a most provocative manner. It was thereafter that the incident turned into a distinctive imbroglio.
If the police had strictly implemented the law, disregarding the connection they had with the minister, the destruction which occurred would not have taken place.
However, because the police followed a policy of protecting the criminals, not only was there a massive destruction but the innocent common people had to pay a price. The compensation for the destruction should have been paid, not from public funds, but from the funds of the party concerned.
The fact that the law is not implemented against politicians connected to the government is not confined to Mawanella, but is a general feature in our country.
In a court case against D. M. Dissanayake which is being heard, he continues to evade justice, the lady judge who is hearing the case had to direct the police to arrest him and to produce him in court. However, the police has so far failed to do so.
During the Wayamba provincial council election, a group of persons connected to the government’s political boss of the area, undressed a young woman who was distributing election handouts, and paraded her on the road. Due to the powerful protest that arose in the country against this disgraceful incident, the Attorney General had to institute legal action against the culprits.
However, the member of the Wayamba Pradeshiya Sabha who is one of the main accused in the case has been constantly evading arrest and the police has been inactive, and consequently the high court judge had to order the OIC of the Katupotha police to explain his failure to arrest the person concerned.
A case which had been filed in connection with a shooting incident resulting in manslaughter in the course of the parliamentary election had Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon as a respondent. As he was evading arrest, the injured party had to go before the high court and pray for an order for the arrest of the minister. Subsequently the Minister surrendered to the court restoring to some extent the trust in our legal system.
Failure to honour judicial orders has been a characteristic of our politicians. Take for instance the case of Harry Liyanage. He was an accused in the Embilipitiya students killing case. After the court freed him, he went before the Supreme Court requesting that he be taken back to the army and be given all the promotions that were due to him, in view of the fact that he had been exonerated of all charges.
The judgment of the Supreme Court was that he should be taken back to the army and that all his due promotions be given. However, the President failed to reappoint the petitioner and consequently had to go before the Supreme Court again seeking justice.
However, considering the immunity of the President, the Supreme Court had to state that there was nothing it could do in the circumstances. This well illustrates the stage to which Sri Lanka has come.