Opinion

Yahapalanaya: walk the talk - EDITORIAL

22 Jan 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ime has come for President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to walk the talk. Clear video evidence shows that UNP Member of Parliament Palitha Thevarapperuma made UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha member Murugan Pushpakumar to kneel in public as a punishment. The parliamentarian had also allegedly assaulted the UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha member.

A police complaint was lodged against the errant MP and strangely enough, despite clear video evidence, he skipped an immediate arrest but was summoned to appear before the Matugama Magistrate on March 2. Meanwhile, Thevarapperuma making a case for himself came on national TV and alleged that the brawl was started by the other party and he, who now belongs to the ruling party, had no reason to let anyone from the Opposition bully him.

Former Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, whose function the insulted Pradshiya Sabha member was attending, was reported to have personally appealed to President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to instruct law enforcement agencies to take action against Thevarapperuma.

However, despite clear video evidence, which was broadcast by most of the electronic media, of course minus the state media now rallying behind the new government, no immediate action was taken against him.

Yesterday it was reported that President Sirisena had instructed the IGP to set up a special police investigation unit to look into the matter. This was an old trick used by the previous regime led by President Rajapaksa to buy more time and finally to not take any action against the perpetrators.

However police acted fast on President Sirisena’s order. The Colombo Crime Division arrested the MP, and produced him before the Colombo Magistrate who remanded him till February 2.

The unruly Thevarapperuma reminds us of maverick Dr. Mervyn Silva of the previous regime who tied a Samurdhi officer to a tree as a punishment in front of everybody. Action against Dr. Mervyn was never taken and he continued to wreak havoc. The ultimate result was Dr. Silva filing a case at the Criminal Investigation Department a few days back against those very people who looked the other way during his vile behaviour and saved his skin. We don’t think those who voted for Yahapalayana want to see the same fate befalling President Sirisena or Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. People are watching Mr. President!

Opinion

Yahapalanaya: walk the talk - EDITORIAL

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