• Clear intention to humiliate and play to the gallery: SLMC Leader Hakeem
• ‘A calculated assault on the very essence of democratic values’, claims Fmr. President Kumaratunga
• G.L. Peries questions why bail was resisted by the State, claims Wickremesinghe is not a flight risk, and as witness testimony has been collected, could not have intimidated witnesses
• ‘Not only an attack on Wickremesinghe, a threat to democracy and political freedom’: SLPP Gen. Secy. Sagala Kariyawasam  
• ‘Govt. moving towards a one-party State’: Patali

Opposition politicians rallied yesterday (24) to denounce the arrest and remanding of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is facing charges under the Public Property Act for alleged misuse of public funds during travel to the United Kingdom in 2023.

The Opposition parties, bar a noticeable absentee – Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, gathered to hold a press conference last morning, to show a unified front against the unprecedented legal action against a former Executive President. They collectively questioned the motive and process which was used and alleged that predictions made by a social media personality with alleged close links to the Government, was accurate enough to predict the course of action by the Judiciary.

The group pledged to work together to resist the Government ‘oppression of political Opposition, and suppression of democratic space’. They also questioned why the Government was silent on the corruption and bribery allegations levelled against their own ministers, including some in the Cabinet, calling lack of action on that front, evidence of selective use of the law by the authorities.  

The group is expected to meet the diplomatic community in Colombo today to brief them about their concerns. Multiple party leaders and senior politicians are expected to visit diplomats in the process. Meanwhile, the main Opposition which was visibly missing from the gathering, is expected to hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss how to further their support for the former President Wickremesinghe who was admitted to the National Hospital for treatments following him being remanded.

Member of Parliament and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem, called the move to arrest and remand the former President as a ‘hasty move to answer cat calls to catch him if you can’ by some political, civil society and media elements. “There was a clear intention to humiliate a political personality and get some applause from the gallery, this is how we see it. This could have been done differently,” he opined. 

He questioned why the course of action that was followed as initiated, when other legal options were available, adding that it was clear that there are other motivations behind the move.

Speaking during the media briefing, former President Maithripala Sirisena said: “In the present course of our country, democracy is facing a serious situation. Democracy has long been rooted in the blood of our people, strengthened over time under leaders such as former Prime Ministers D.S. Senanayake and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Whatever anyone says, during my time in office, the introduction of the 19th Amendment was the most important constitutional reform in strengthening democracy in recent times.”

He added: “We can see democratic values gradually fading away. The coffin is being prepared to bury democracy. Media institutions, religious leaders led by the Buddhist clergy, civil servants, artists, and citizens down to schoolchildren must understand the worth of a democratic society. When democracy comes under threat, it becomes the duty of everyone who values it to defend it. In our political lives, we have endured imprisonment and various forms of harassment. A politician is not complete unless he has been remanded. But we will do everything within our power to secure Wickremesinghe’s release through democratic means.”

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga had also issued a statement regarding the arrest of Wickremesinghe, who is currently in remand custody. The statement read that the particular circumstances surrounding his arrest at a point when the investigation is nearly complete give rise to grave concerns regarding the strength of basic democratic institutions in the country. 

“What we are witnessing is a calculated onslaught on the very essence of our democratic values. The consequences of this go far beyond the fate of an individual or any political grouping, and involve peril for the rights of our society as a whole. I wholeheartedly join in expressing my unreserved Opposition to these initiatives, which all political leaders are duty-bound to resist,” she said. 

Former Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris, who joined the briefing, said: “If bribery, corruption, or fraud has taken place, then by all means the law should take its course. We fully support action against corruption, which must be eradicated from our political system. But guilt or innocence is a matter for the courts. To date, Wickremesinghe has not been found guilty of any offence under Sri Lankan law. He is therefore entitled to the presumption of innocence, a principle enshrined in our Constitution.”

He opined that there was no need for him (Wickremesinghe) to be arrested. “Was his arrest in any way necessary for a proper investigation? Clearly not. The Police are empowered to investigate, and once investigations are concluded, they can either file proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court or refer the matter to the Attorney General (AG) for consideration of an indictment in the High Court. None of these steps require an arrest. There is no risk of Wickremesinghe absconding. He is a former President, still active in political life, and no one would believe he could simply flee abroad to evade justice. If required to appear in court, he will undoubtedly do so. Furthermore, the prosecution itself confirmed that evidence from 33 witnesses has already been recorded. That evidence is in the custody of the prosecution, which rules out any possibility of witness intimidation or tampering.”

Commenting on the controversy over the UK event attended by Wickremesinghe in 2023, which forms the basis of the case against him, Peiris said: “There were two separate events. The first was a celebratory lunch marking the 25th anniversary of Lord Swraj Paul’s service as Chancellor of the relevant university. Wickremesinghe attended that event not privately, but in his official capacity as the serving President of Sri Lanka. In the afternoon, there was a convocation at which Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe was inducted as an Associate Professor of English.”

He further went on to say: “Another issue raised relates to the security provided to a President. Security is attached to the office, not to the nature of the event. Whether a President attends an official ceremony, a wedding, an almsgiving, or a private visit, the State is obliged to ensure their protection as long as they remain in office. This applies whether the President is in Sri Lanka or overseas. Therefore, to describe the expenses of the President’s security detail during foreign visits as unjustified or as personal costs is completely incorrect. A President, whether in the UK, Cuba, or Sri Lanka, is entitled to that security.”

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam also spoke at the media briefing and said: “We have seen Wickremesinghe being remanded in custody. This has created a major debate in society about whether such a step should have been taken before the Police had even completed their investigations. The remand was based on an investigation led by an officer who had retired from the Police before the Presidential Election, later worked at the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) office in Pelawatta, and was then re-hired to the Police through a special Cabinet paper after this Government took power.”

He added that they were not debating Wickremesinghe’s political views. “We may or may not agree with his politics, but that is not the issue. In this country, every citizen has the right to hold a political opinion of their choice. What we see instead is a government that promised the people a new country in six months but, once it realised it could not deliver, turned to suppressing and crushing opponents in order to hold on to power. This is not only an attack on Wickremesinghe. It is a direct threat to democracy itself, and to the right of every citizen to political freedom.”

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka questioned if the move by the Government was the first step in them moving towards a ‘one-party’ State. 

It is learnt that Opposition parties are planning to explore legal options available to support the release of the former President. 

Issuing a statement last evening, the SJB stated that the move by the Government to arrest Wickremesinghe is a planned political conspiracy, which has been made evident by the claim being first released to the public by a social media activist with close links to the party in power. “This can impact the independence of the Judiciary. We demand to know what action the Government will take about that,” the SJB questioned, alleging that the secret designs of the Government to undermine the democratic pillars and the multi-party nature of Sri Lanka are becoming evident.