A horrific road accident in the Denimala area of Sapugaskanda today (11) involving a jeep belonging to former Speaker and current Member of Parliament Ashoka Ranwala has raised serious questions about the conduct of politically powerful individuals.
The incident, which starkly illustrates how those with political influence operate with apparent disregard for the law, has resulted in a severe predicament for ordinary citizens due to the alleged negligence of a ruling party MP who has held high-ranking, responsible positions in the country.
The terrifying head-on collision occurred around 7:45 PM today (11) when the jeep, reportedly driven by MP Ashoka Ranwala, crashed into a ‘Maruti’ car traveling on the road. While specific details regarding the MP’s driving are yet to be definitively reported, the severe injuries sustained by an innocent mother and a young child in the Maruti car have fueled serious public suspicion regarding the consideration the politically privileged give to road rules and public safety.
The gravity of the injuries is clear, with the injured woman admitted to Kiribathgoda Hospital and the young child rushed to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo for specialized treatment. Reports indicate that neither the ruling party nor the MP’s office has yet issued any statement or sympathetic response regarding the injustice caused to the child and mother.
Negligence of a Controversial Politician
The actions of Ashoka Ranwala, who recently held the Speaker’s office for the shortest period in history and was embroiled in a major controversy over his educational qualifications, once again confirm the perceived irresponsibility of those in power. Although the MP was also injured and admitted to Ragama Hospital for treatment, the complexity of the accident is highlighted by the fact that the MP’s jeep, the Maruti car, and a third involved motorcycle have all been taken into police custody.
There is a growing public demand for authorities to conduct a swift and impartial investigation into incidents like this, where political power, privilege, and arbitrary behaviour endanger the lives of common people, and for the true facts to be disclosed to the nation. The paramount question arising from this incident is whether the law of the land is different for those in power.
