New detention laws only for Govt.’s political opponents: UNP

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 00:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The main Opposition United National Party denounced the attack on Asela Waidyalankara by the son of a Senior Cabinet Minister yesterday, claiming that the immediate release of the suspects proved that the recently-enacted amendments to the detention laws in the country were only meant for use against political opponents.

Asela Waidyalankara, who is the son of Batticaloa DIG Ravi Waidyalankara, is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo after allegedly being assaulted by 13 people, including Minister Maithripala Sirisena’s son, at a holiday resort in Pasikudah.

All 13 suspects were released on Police bail on the night of the incident, even though the victim was receiving treatment in the ICU of the Batticaloa General Hospital.

UNP Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake told a media briefing last morning that the Government was constantly proving that the law worked in different ways depending on how much political power someone wielded.

“The Government was in a tearing hurry to bring the new detention laws allowing the Police to detain a suspect for 48 hours. But this recent release of suspects including a Minister’s son proves that this law will be applied selectively,” Karunathilake told journalists.

The UNP MP said that the recent violence directed at a senior Police officer’s son and the inaction of law enforcement in the face of it was further proof of the overwhelming politicisation of the Police force.

Karunathilake called for a disciplinary inquiry against Minister Sirisena, who is also the General Secretary of the SLFP, the main constituent party in the ruling UPFA coalition.

“This Minister’s son has taken the law into his own hands – the question the people are asking now is whether the law has completely lost its force and effect on persons in positions of power?” the UNP Spokesman charged.