Govt investigates crimes without a bias – Minister de Silva

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said the government takes all possible measures to bring criminals before the law and it has been able to deal with them according to the law. He said it was a matter of regret that the Opposition and the UNP attempt to highlight certain matters to achieve petty political gains, while the Police and the government worked hard to bring culprits of crimes, such as, the Rs 70 million bank robbery in Peliyagoda; the doctor’s murder in Karandeniya; a foreigner’s murder in Tangalle; the double murder in Kahawatta, to book.

He made this observation in Parliament yesterday in response to a special statement by Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Minister de Silva said in his speech:

“The government did not hesitate to investigate crimes and arrest suspects without a bias.

“The Opposition’s behaviour, making baseless and false statements to gain political benefits is clear evidence of their political bankruptcy.

“After eliminating the three-decade terrorism the government has created an environment free of fear for the people to travel across the country. It is ridiculous that Ranil Wickremesinghe speaks of crimes in 2010 and 2011 forgetting 1987-1990 and 2001-2004 under the UNP regime when fear psychosis reigned.

“It is a well known fact that abductions, disappearances, murders and maintaining torture centres like Batalanda were committed without fear during those periods.

“As a result of the peace established by the government political parties that could not operate in the North for 30 years are able to do so now. The May Day rally of the UNP held in Jaffna with the TNA is testimony that law and order is guaranteed in the country.

“The UNP and other political parties in the Opposition have forgotten there was an era of bomb blasts, when lawyers like Wijedasa Liyanarachchi were murdered. It was during the UNP regime that the 1983 Black July defamed the country.

“During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s regime in 2002, 48,539 crimes were reported and only 23,579 were solved. In 2003, 51,150 crimes were reported, and in the first three months of 2004 around 13,266 crimes were reported.

“Although the Opposition said no legal actions were taken against the criminals who killed a woman by shooting a bus in Homagama on January 12, 2010 while she was travelling to participate in a rally of Sajith Premadasa in Tissamaharama , two suspects have been arrested and produced before the Tangalle Magistrate under case No BR 24/2010.

“In respect of the Katuwana double murder on June 15, special police teams have been deployed for investigation and directed to the CID since June 16. The IGP reported investigation is being conducted independently”.

Minister de Silva making the above statements said whoever urged the Opposition Leader to make the statement has given him a dead rope.

Making the special statement under Standing Order No 23(2) the Opposition Leader said there is no law and justice prevailing in the country. He said a situation has dawned in which, a young girl apart, no one can move about freely along the roads today.

He said one cannot hold an alternative opinion, people are abducted, leading to disappearances.