UNP says good governance is a slow process

• Special court for large-scale fraud casesto be set up on 15 July

By Rahel Kirinde

The UNP yesterday sought to defend the slow economic and political progress in the country, claiming that good governance was a slow process that could not take place overnight.

“Our goal was to achieve a public participant government where reforms take place as per the wishes of the general public. The journey is slow but we’ll get there,” said MP Ajith Mannapperuma, addressing a media conference at the UNP headquarters of Sirikotha.

He added that unlike a dictatorship where reforms took place rapidly, a democracy with good governance followed a righteous path with a clear vision that materialised over time. 

“It is a consultative process taking in the ideas of the public and that takes time; results may be slow but we move closer towards our goals each day,” he explained.

Outlining an array of reasons for the sluggish progress displayed in investigating corruption cases filed at the Financial Crimes Division (FCID) and Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Mannapperuma blamed the legal framework and procedures in place. 

“One of our biggest issues is strengthening the court system and the legal framework. It cannot be done hastily because we focus on strengthening it without intervening in its internal matters,” said Mannapperuma.

The newly-appointed Deputy Minister claimed that the bottleneck in processing lay with the Attorney General’s Department with only 15 cases being filed out of over 99 forwarded to the department by the CID. However, he claimed that the issues were being addressed with additional cadre recruitments and the opening of special courts. 

The much anticipated special court to try large-scale fraud cases will be set up by 15 July, he said, with another magistrate court dedicated to hearing child abuse cases to be set up in Battaramulla soon. 

Speaking to journalists at the press conference, MP Nalin Bandara dismissed claims of an increase in criminal activity, stressing that the crime rate and overall criminal activity had gradually dropped during the past 10 years and continued to decline.

He further stated that apart from murder, overall criminal activity and the number of grave crimes were on a steady decline and that drug-related incarcerations were increasing.

Elaborating on the imprisonment of Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, Bandara stated that the Government would not interfere in the matter.

“We are saddened by what happened but our Government is not one that takes matters of the law into its own hands unlike previous regimes,” he asserted. He added that in his view the law should be implemented in a way which treats every individual equally.

Speaking about the implementation of the law by previous administrations, Mannapperuma said: “The law was like a cobweb. Powerful and politically backed individuals were able to break through it and the small people got caught up in it. This is what we vowed to change after being appointed.”