Kiriella sets difficult poser for govt.

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB  MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday that all 90 cases mentioned in the Presidential Committee report on political victimisation could not be considered instances of political victimisation because all those cases had been filed by the incumbent Chief Justice when he was the Attorney General.

 “The government and Leader of the House consider them instances of political victimisation. Those are cases filed by the then Attorney General. Such legal action cannot be counted as political victimisation. The one who filed those cases is the country’s Chief Justice. Do you know the implications of such a situation?” the Chief Opposition Whip demanded to know from the government.

 MP Kiriella said that the parliamentary debate on the report of the Presidential Commission of inquiry on political victimisation had been requested by the Opposition and, therefore, the opportunity of opening of the debate should be given to the Opposition. “Field Marshal Fonseka has submitted a motion from our party asking for this debate. It was we who fought to get this debate. We fought in the party leaders’ meeting for that purpose. The government kept postponing citing all the reasons and standing orders and points of order. Fortunately, the Speaker finally agreed that the debate could be held. The government has no right to open a debate requested by the Opposition. In addition, I want to point out to you that the report refers to 90 cases being heard before courts and identifies them as instances of political victimisation. Who filed those cases in the first place? They were filed by the then Attorney General who is the Chief Justice now.”