SLPP alleges MP Ramanayake’s motives far from pure

Thursday, 23 January 2020 02:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Claims recordings clearly done to interfere in key institutions and not to root out corruption as claimed

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday questioned the motives behind MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s controversial call recordings, insisting they were not done with altruistic motives, but rather to interfere in key institutions.

SLPP MP Sudharshani Fernandopulle, addressing a press conference yesterday, argued that the motives behind keeping the said recordings in storage may have been with intent to blackmail judges and other senior public officials.

“He claims he did it all to catch criminals, those who are corrupt, but none have been arrested and charged as of yet,” she said, pointing out that while there was a need to bring criminals to justice, it should be done so with an ethical and moral framework.

“What he (Ramanayake) did was to use these tapes to influence the Police, Judiciary and others to act against those who stood up to the UNF Government, these were clearly used for political victimisation of opponents,” she charged.

Fernandopulle charged that due to the controversy, public sector officials and citizens have been forced to suppress their right to speech. “A fundamental right of citizens have been violated by this act since when the recordings were made without any warning, without consent,” she opined, questioning why the recordings were put into storage.

The controversy has today undermined the faith in the Judiciary, law enforcement and the Parliament, she opined, noting that such actions will bring disrepute to Sri Lanka.