Sri Lanka has become a country without law and order.....!!!

UNP URGES GOVT. TO IMPLEMENT 17TH AMENDMENT SOON

The country is under siege while there is nobody to complain

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The main opposition UNP yesterday urged the government to implement the 17th Amendment despite all its flaws and snags to activate the Constitutional Council (CC) thereby paving way for the appointment of independent commissions as Sri Lanka has become a country without law and order.

Party spokesman, Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella told a news briefing that the government continues to deliberately violate the basic law- the Constitution - by not activating the CC and preventing the functioning of Police, Elections, Judicial Service and Public Service Commissions under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which are pre-requisites for good governance.

“The government is behind almost all crimes perpetrated against politicians and journalists and many others who do not toe the line of the government. President Mahinda Rajapaksa purposely refuses to appoint the members to the CC and kill time giving various excuses. The country is under siege while there is nobody to complain and the average public has no one to turn for help,” Mr. Kiriella charged.

Recent police promotions have been given by the cabinet, which was a clear violation of the Constitution. Government’s modus operandi was to politicise the entire police service. Except IG, other appointments must be done by the Police Commission. A large majority of police personnel are efficient and a hardworking lot but they are helpless under the influence exerted by government politicians, he stressed.

“If the government is genuine about good governance it must immediately implement the 17th Amendment. The non-activation of independent commissions has brought the country to anarchy, Mr. Kiriella said.

Responding to a question by a journalist that a Parliamentary Select Committee has been appointed to remove the flaws of the 17th Amendment and the government is seeking the opposition’s cooperation to get them through Parliament he said the government must first implement the 17th Amendment to show its genuineness and then introduce suggestions to remove the flaws of the 17th Amendment.

“Why did the government members raised their hands to approve the 17th Amendment in the first place if there are flaws in it?” he questioned.

The country is in a situation of lawlessness right now. There is no one to complain and no one to look into the grievances of the public. President Rajapaksa keeps postponing the appointment of members to the CC. Even the Parliamentary Select Committee suggest to bring down the number of members needed for quorum to 6 from 10, the President can thwart the effort by not appointing members to the CC, Kiriella emphasized.

DAILYMIRROR.LK