Intellectuals warn of NGO plot to destabilise govt

CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE

A panel of intellectuals from the Colombo University and Open University yesterday cautioned the public against attempts by some political groups and Non Governmental Organisations working to destabilize the government over the impeachment against Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake.

Colombo University Sociology Department senior lecturer Dr Jagath Wellawatta yesterday said at a press conference held by university teachers at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, these groups were trying to create major civil unrest in the country by highlighting that there was a conflict between the government and the judiciary.

Dr Wellawatta said they were playing up this theme in a big way not only for people in Sri Lanka, but, also for members of the international community.

"These organisations have lobbied against the impeachment to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the British Parliament. Some have filed petitions against it in the Court of Appeal. Many things have happened since

the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the articles of alleged charges leveled against Chief Justice Dr Bandaranayaka," he said. Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake presented herself in good faith before the Parliamentary Select Committee to face the impeachment charges that has been leveled against her on account of allegations concerning professional and financial misconduct, he said.

"Impeachment is a constitutional process and it is a legitimate trial during which that Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake can clear herself of all charges concerned. There are provisions that she can also step down from her office during the process," he said . "The problem with those who have protested against her impeachment is that they belong to the category of organizations that has always lobbied against the government against as a rule," he explained. "Some of these organizations and individuals have been supporting separatist agendas of the LTTE, that is even after the government having ended its war against terrorism about three years ago," he explained. Open University Mathematics and Engineering Department senior lecturer Dr Nemsiri Jayathilaka said among the organizations that have demanded to throwout the impeachment motion are Transparency International, Federation of University Teachers' Association(FUTA) and 10 to 12 NGOs.

We told the government even during the time that FUTA struck work paralyzing the University education system in the country over their demand of a mythical 6 percent GDP for education, that they have a motive to destabilize the country. "Now it has come out in the open," he said. "Some Western countries that opposed the government when it took actions to defeat LTTE terrorism, are also backing these groups," he added. "They are propagating that the government is at loggerheads with judiciary to cause a commotion among the people. They have been doing this to many countries, for example Pakistan. A similar situation of tension was created in Egypt between the government and the judiciary to destabilize that country," he explained. "People should understand that all this is part of the same operation to destabilize the country.

These elements are going to organize rallies against the impeachment to lure public into their agenda. People must not become victims to those organizations that try to disrupt the social order," he said. "One must not forget that the impeachment motion is backed by 117 MPs and that it is the legislative branch of the government that directly represent the public. The legislative branch represent the People's supremacy. Impeachment is a legitimate process," he added.

Also, spoke on this occasion was Colombo University Economic Department senior lecturer Dr D A C Suranga Silva.