​Sajith pledges to depoliticise legal system

• Claims if elected he will bring wholesale changes to ‘leadership team’ 
• Agrees with critics of Govt.’s anti-corruption drive
• Pledges to introduce multiparty committees to supervise State tenders 
• Pledges to introduce new legislation prohibiting hate speech and curbing ethnic violence

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader and presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa recently pledged to depoliticise the administration of justice, bring in sweeping anti-corruption measures and deliver “wholesale” changes to his leadership team if elected. 

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader and presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa

Premadasa made these remarks last Friday at a forum organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham) themed ‘Meet the Candidate’. The forum, the first in a series that the chamber plans to hold, gives candidates the opportunity to divulge and discuss their policies. The discussion was moderated by Verite Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan De Mel. 

At the forum, Premadasa emphasised that the leadership team he formed would not include “yes men” nor would appointments be made based on deals, as he pledged to revamp Government leadership if elected. 

“We will move away from friendship-based appointments and to a meritocratic model where those with good track records will be given an opportunity,” he said.

Responding to questions on the delivery of good governance and the promised anti-corruption efforts by the 2015 ‘Yahapalanaya’ Government, Premadasa conceded that he shared the disappointment of many but pointed out that the alternative was to bow down to oligarchy and family rule. He promised to introduce sweeping anti-corruption reforms, including introducing multiparty committees with powers to supervise the Government tender process.  

He also highlighted the need to depoliticise the administration of justice, pointing out that political interference acts as an obstacle to justice. 

“The correct legal procedure will move forward and there will be no hindrance or political interference,” Premadasa said in reply to a query on what would happen to the current investigations on the Central Bank bond scandal if he was elected.

The presidential hopeful said he was pro-wealth-making. However, he wanted an equitable redistribution model. Commenting on foreign policy, Premadasa claimed that external relationships should be based on achieving a national goal. However, he stopped short of defining the said national goals. A surgical approach was needed to leverage Sri Lanka’s geo-strategic advantages to maximise benefits to the country, he opined. 

Commenting on the debt crisis, Premadasa claimed that if elected, he would renegotiate debt and seek the restructuring of debt repayment with international financial institutions. 

Premadasa claimed that an administration under his leadership would introduce new legislation to curb hate speech and extremism. He pointed out that former army commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka would be tasked with the responsibility of delivering “perpetual peace and harmony”. 

“We need to strengthen punitive action that will act as a deterrent to extremism and those who fuel disharmony,” he said, adding, “We will destroy terrorism, taking a strong-handed approach and will destroy extremism. Extremism, xenophobia and racism will be irradiated.”   

The candidate, reiterating his policies, commented on the need to introduce charters on children, women and youth rights, pledging to empower the charters through legislation that would ensure necessary protections and assistance were given by a future government.