• Cabinet seems to have taken the role of the judiciary

By Yohan Perera 

The move by the Cabinet to penalise those who have been found guilty by the Presidential Commission on political victimisation is dangerous, an SJB MP said yesterday. 

SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne told a press conference that Cabinet seems to have taken over the role of the judiciary by this move. “It is the judiciary which should punish any wrongdoer. It is a judge who listens to arguments raised by the defendant and the plaintiff and then determine who is guilty. The cabinet cannot play that role,” Mr. Wickramaratne said. 

“It seemed that the cabinet decision has been made to penalise persons such as former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka “ he added. 

The SJB MP opposed the move by the government to declare Colombo Port as an essential service. “Declaring the Colombo Port an essential service is a politically motivated move,” he said. 

Former MP and Head of Women’s wing of SJB Hirunika Premachandra who also participated in the press conference said those within the government who oppose the handing over of Eastern Terminal to India will ultimately allow it. “Those who oppose the move with regard to Eastern Terminal are engaged in a drama as those in the government who oppose it will welcome it in the end just like in the case of the 20th amendment. Some within the government opposed the 20th amendment but ended up voting in favour of it,” she recalled.   

• Declaring the Port an essential service is politically motivated