Crime rate has increased while police search for protesters – Opposition

By Akitha Perera

Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne must be ashamed that crime had increased during his tenure as Defence Secretary, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahuman said in Colombo yesterday.

“Recently, Gunaratne came on TV and said Sri Lanka’s image was tarnished because of footage that showed protesters applying soap and bathing in the pool at the Presidential palace. The people did so to show their displeasure at leaders living in luxury, while they suffer. Everyone in this country knows that you don’t apply soap when bathing in a pool. this is not the 1950s,” Rahuman said.

“There are many other things for the Defence Secretary to be ashamed of,” Rahuman added.

“The man who appointed him as the Defence Secretary destroyed the country’s economy. We are now running all over the world, asking for aid from everyone. Isn’t that something to be ashamed. People have died, waiting in queues to buy essential items; isn’t that more shameful? The crime rate has gone through the roof. Didn’t you claim that you will get rid of crime? How has that worked out for you? Shouldn’t Gunaratne be ashamed of that,” he said.

The SJB lawmaker added that the government has not taken any steps to solve the economic, or social problems. A way out of the crisis has not been presented and the President thinks that IMF is a panacea for all Sri Lanka’s problems, he said.

“Ranil Wickremesighe has been President for a month. He has been Prime Minister for three months. We are not asking for miracles. At least tell us what your plan is. The SJB has tabled our proposals in Parliament. The government is silent on that, too. People are suffering and will lose patience soon,” he said.

Rahuman went on to say that President Wickremesighe has been talking about the need for everyone to come together and establishing an all-party government. However, Wickremesighe is also carrying out a massive campaign to arrest protest leaders, he said.

“There is a dissonance here. On one hand he is talking about working together. At the same time, the police is arresting youth, for no reason. Policemen, across the country, have nothing else to do than look for youth involved in protests. While they are fully focused on this ludicrous witch-hunt, crime has gone through the roof. Underworld gunmen are killing people left, right and centre. Why are taxpayers funding the police?” he said.