RW’s ordeal: Equal application of law or hatred towards elite?

Subsequent to the arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe last month, the NPP Government faced a considerable public backlash. When the court remanded the UNP leader for four days, the Government and its sympathisers portrayed the incident as manifestation of the administration’s sincere commitment to punish the wrongdoers irrespective of stature or social backgrounds. The NPP leaders boasted that not even ex-presidents are spared from the law under their rule. On the other hand, detractors accused the Government of pursuing political/personal vendetta.

The former President has been accused of misusing about Rs. 16.9 million public funds for personal purposes. Prosecutors allege the public funds were used specifically to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton in London in September 2023. The trip occurred following official visits to Cuba (for the G77 summit) and the United States (the UN General Assembly).

Two years ago, Wolverhampton University awarded an honorary professorship to Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe in recognition of her accomplishments as an academic and a practitioner in the spheres of gender and higher education. The occasion also coincided with the 25th anniversary of Lord Swraj Paul’s chancellorship at the British academic institution. Paul, who passed away last month, was a leading businessman in the UK as well as a member of the House of Lords – the Upper House of the UK Parliament. In October 2023, it was reported in the UK edition of an Indian media publication that the then President Wickremesinghe and his wife were hosted by the UK-based University to celebrate the 25th year of Paul’s chancellorship. The event has also been attended by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK at that time and many other dignitaries. Hence, it is doubtful whether the said occasion could be termed as an entirely private affair. Meanwhile, Secretary of the University of Wolverhampton Christine Fraser, in a letter addressed to the office of the former President, had confirmed that Wickremesinghe and his spouse were officially invited to the contentious event.

The investigations against Wickremesinghe were led by Director of the CID Shani Abeysekara, who was appointed to the current post last June. Abeysekara actively extended his support to the NPP at the Presidential election a year ago and given his political connections, opponents would be naturally inclined to accuse the Government of using the CID to supress political dissent through Abeysekara. Abeysekara’s re-entry to the CID runs counter to the NPP’s pre-election pledge of depoliticising Police and giving independence to institutions associated with law and order.

Before coming into power, the NPP leaders vowed to take action against Wickremesinghe for his alleged role in the in the hotly debated Bond scam. After the septuagenarian’s interview to Al-Jazeera, the cabinet ministers even pledged to prosecute him with regard to his purported association with the infamous Balalanda torture chamber. However, no progress was observed regarding either of those accusations.

Having fared quite poorly at the last Presidential election, the 76-year-old political leader does not represent any worthwhile political challenge to the NPP. Hence, why is the Government targeting a politician who lacks widespread public support? The former President is a maternal grandson of Late D.R. Wijewardena, one of the wealthiest Sri Lankans during his era. Wickremesinghe’s privileged family background and upbringing are well known. Certain hardcore elements of the JVP – a political movement that was launched to defeat the influence of capitalists – still demonstrate resentment towards people who represent Colombo’s elite. Also, in an environment where the Government’s top political leaders get humiliated for their inability to converse in English at international forums, the UNP leader’s stature as a sought-after speaker at global conferences is highly detested by many in the NPP. The equal application of law is a cornerstone of democracy. Yet, when legal instruments are deployed selectively, fuelled by class resentment rather than genuine pursuit of justice, the very foundations of a civilised social order begin to erode.