A dangerous trend of politicizing state institutions under the guise of the current National People’s Power (NPP) government’s “anti-corruption” campaign is emerging. Reports that a team of high-ranking Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials traveled to the United Kingdom (UK) without the knowledge or instruction of the Attorney General’s Department during the investigation into a Rs. 16.6 million misappropriation charge against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe raise serious doubts about the government’s transparency. Political haste has been prioritized over the investigation of justice.
Deliberately Bypassing Legal Oversight
The revelation by ‘The Sunday Times’ that senior officials of the Attorney General’s Department, including Additional Solicitor General Dilipa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Perera, were not informed about the gravity of this investigation is a disturbing development. It is also reported that Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe himself was unaware of the visit. Ordinarily, any investigation carried out in a foreign country, especially a sensitive one related to a former Head of State, should proceed under the direct instruction and supervision of the Attorney General to ensure legal validity and correct procedure.
However, the fact that the five-member CID team, led by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, made this decision independently suggests an attempt to bypass the control of the legal process at the behest of some political force.
The Hunt for a Political Victory
The NPP came to power on promises of reforming the corrupt political system. However, this incident suggests that the fight against corruption has now become a vengeful political hunt driven by a thirst for political advantage, rather than a policy-abiding legal process. The government appears to be attempting to quickly file charges against political rivals, publicly arrest them, and temporarily remand them to record a political victory.
By bypassing the Attorney General’s Department, they likely aim to avoid legal complications or the time-consuming normal processes that might arise during the investigation, allowing them to quickly file the case and achieve a publicly visible result. The five-day foreign trip, costing a substantial amount of public money without the advice of the country’s chief legal adviser, indicates that this investigation is being used to serve the highest interests of the party, rather than upholding the rule of law.
The Dark Shadow of Expense and Hypocrisy
At a time when former President Wickremesinghe is accused of misusing Rs. 16.6 million for his two-day trip, questions arise about the cost of the five-day foreign travel by the five CID officers. Misappropriating public funds in the name of the anti-corruption fight is nothing short of hypocrisy. Furthermore, the team is reportedly scheduled to record a statement from the former High Commissioner, Ms. Sarojini Sirisena, tomorrow (November 17). Any statement obtained without proper legal guidance risks being weakened in court, which could ultimately make the entire investigation a farce.
The actions taken by the NPP government today will cause immense damage to Sri Lanka’s justice system. The deliberate undermining of the Attorney General’s Department’s role and the branding of the CID as an institution subservient to political commands will be recorded in history as a great betrayal of the public mandate, more so than a fight against corruption. This dangerous game of sacrificing institutional integrity for political gains must be stopped immediately.
Source: The Sunday Times
