These two incidents  evoked much public interest and anger. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) supported by concerned persons and organizations staged demonstrations and strikes demanding swift action to bring the assailants to book. While lawyers walked out of courts and staged the protest, the doctors staged a token strike on the day of their departed colleague’s funeral. Of course, some sections – mainly pro-government activists – took exception to these protests charging the organizers with attempting to whip up anti-government feelings. 

These demonstrations and strikes indeed are not required if the process of law takes its course effectively and efficiently. It is the new trend that allows wrongdoers to go scot-free while the police succumb to pressures, influences or rewards neglecting their duties that has made these protests necessary. In some cases the delays in action on the part of the police are understandable. The craftiness in which the criminals and terrorists operate today often leaves no clues behind for the police to follow. But in certain cases investigations are deliberately delayed as a result of various pressures brought to bear on the police.   

In the case of the doctor’s killing the delay in arresting the suspect and the statements that some ministers and certain police officers made created doubts about justice being done to the aggrieved parties. Some police officers made attempts even to show that the attack on the doctor has taken place under extenuating circumstances. The police statement that the suspect had earlier lodged a complaint against the doctor, for instance, aggravated the suspicion that the police were trying to trivialize the crime reducing it to a personal conflict. It was under these circumstances that the GMOA launched its campaign and it is believed that it was the public protests that expedited the arrest of the suspect. 

In the case of the attack on Weliamuna’s residence there has been no police breakthrough yet. This delay has aroused suspicion whether this incident too will add to the list of unsolved mysteries in this country. True the police have completed investigations and filed cases in courts in respect of some of these cases but a large number of them still remain apparently abandoned.   

As it is correctly described by Weliamuna, the grenade attack was rather a despicable attack on democracy and the rule of law than a personal attack on him. It is obvious that the criminals who have carried out the attack have not been lone attackers. They have undoubtedly acted at the behest of parties that resent the role that Weliamuna plays in the present context of degeneration observed in many spheres of activity in this country. Democracy and rule of law are the major casualties in this situation. And human rights activists like Weliamuna who attempt to arrest further deterioration of the state of affairs, constitute an obstacle to carry on with their unlawful activities.    

Lip service, of course, is being paid liberally about upholding these concepts. However, the advocates of these concepts either adopt a policy of deafening silence or find excuses whenever such violations take place. The opposition politicians and parties of course make a big noise against them. They cannot, however, be depended upon to be consistent in their  policies. They, more often than not, lose interest in fighting injustice once they get into the seats of power. .

Those who virtually shed tears when residences of judges were stoned and castigated the late President J.R.Jayewardene for permitting such attacks are silent today.    

The need for lawyers and other civil society leaders, therefore, to come forward with solidarity to protect democratic rights and freedoms is great. The polarization of society behind political parties in this country is so disgusting that all issues, whether political, social or religious, are viewed from party angles. The institutions that trail behind these parties too adopt partisan attitudes and thus fail to support campaigns to protect and promote interests even when they are convinced of their vital need for their own well-being.  Media institutions follow the same attitude. The despicable attack on Weliamna’s house which is a matter of public concern is no news of any importance to the state media. This attitude of the state media lends substance to the suspicion that those whom they support had played some role in the incident.