| by Hana Ibrahim
( January 21, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The confusion created by the sacking Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and installing Mohan Peiris as the new Chief Justice without any consideration for the verdicts of the Appeal Court and Supreme Court, is giving rise to a situation that was seen in the country many years ago? The President proudly stated a few days back that he would not allow the country to be run by ‘chits issued with orders’ as it happened in an earlier era. But that era appears to be returning to the discomfiture of the normal law abiding citizens of this country.
These cannot be dismissed as mere acts of mischief committed by disgruntled elements with the intent of creating mischief.
They appear to be a part of a major picture of creating a fear psychosis with the intention of rooting out all dissent, and appear to be happening with the connivance of the powers that be. It has to be construed that way, because of what has been revealed by a leading opposition politician from the South.
Speaking at a media briefing UNP Matara District MP Mangala Samaraweera has said, an underworld figure serving a prison term has been released to cause violence against Weliamuna, a human rights lawyer and former executive director of Transparency International of Sri Lanka that advocates anti-corruption and transparency.
These acts are perhaps the beginning, and signs of what are to follow in the days to come, with a severe crack-down on dissent, and violence perpetrated on dissenters to silence them and put-up with the plunder and robbery taking place in the country. Already we have seen the government disregarding court determinations and setting a bad example to the people. People who have very little knowledge of what is happening in the country have been encouraged to chant slogans defaming Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake on the streets and also to camp-out in front of her official residence and cause harassment to her. This was in addition to the government media defaming her morning and evening, all because a Court headed by her had handed out a judgement that was not to the liking of the government.
Already the people have to put up with a heavy cost of living, which is making it difficult for them to have even one square meal a day, with the authorities being insensitive to their predicament and heaping more burdens on them. The havoc caused by the recent rains and the unusual cold weather in the vegetable growing areas have made the price of vegetable soar to dizzy heights so much so there have been requests that vegetables be imported to tide over the difficult situation.
The government’s priorities appear to be different and aimed at feathering its own nest whatever the common man’s predicament may be. No doubt the country needs development; but it should not be at the expense of its citizens. The government may think that its beautification programme in Colombo and the heavy infrastructure development in the South alone would bring prosperity to the nation. But essentially it is how the world sees us that spawn development with investments pouring in. No one would want to invest in a country that is unsettled and is seething with dissent.
It is only by following accepted norms and acting democratically with concern for the people that the government could see true development in the country.
( The writer, is the editor of the Ceylon Today, a daily newspaper based in Colombo, where this piece was originally appeared)
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