Opposition parties to rev up agitation against Govt.

Leaders and representatives of opposition parties who have teamed up against the government. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel 

By Yohan Perera  

The opposition political parties have teamed up for a minimum common programme against the government, accusing it of converting the police into a Gestapo and politicising law enforcement agencies. They said their collective is similar to the Allies, which teamed up against Germany led by Adolf Hitler during World War II.  

The combined opposition — comprising the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), United National Party (UNP), National Freedom Front, Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, and several other groups — announced a series of nationwide rallies, beginning in Nugegoda on November 21.  

Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa accused the government of justifying extrajudicial actions under the guise of combating crime. “If slain Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekera had any underworld links, a proper investigation should have been conducted. Justifying his killing on those grounds is unacceptable in a democratic state,” Yapa said.  

He and other opposition figures alleged that the police force has been transformed into a politically driven institution, pointing to the appointment of two officers with past links to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) — one to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and another as Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security. Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila accused Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake of conspiring to politicise the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).  

“They misled members of the Constitutional Council to ensure the appointment of Ranga Dissanayake as Director General of CIABOC,” Gammanpila claimed. “A civil member of the Council has already expressed her dissatisfaction over the appointment process.”  

He added that the opposition alliance aims to restore independence to Sri Lanka’s law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions.  

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam accused the government of failing to deliver on its election promises. “Not a single one of the 100-plus pledges in the NPP manifesto has been fulfilled. Transferring Police Commission powers to the IGP clearly shows how the police have been politicised. The IGP may now be following an agenda dictated by higher authorities,” Kariyawasam said.  

UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala warned that even Parliament is being subjected to politicisation. “The Speaker’s decision to allow a public health officer — a close associate of his — to oversee the cleaning of the parliamentary kitchen reflects this disturbing trend,” she said. 

SLFP Vice President Mahinda Amaraweera criticised the government’s agricultural policies, particularly the growing reliance on imports. “Importing rice and essential crops like big onions has become this government’s main economic strategy,” he charged.  

When asked why the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) did not join the joint press conference, opposition leaders said they expect SJB participation in the Nugegoda rally on November 21.“Former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, are fully backing our movement,” they stated.