The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I am not alone in standing for the independence of the Attorney General’s Department—the institution of the Attorney General. Our 159 Members and the President also stand for it. That is the system. Also, Harshana Nanayakkara is not running a government alone. We know much is said on social media without verification. We are not bound to answer every opinion aired there. Hon. Leader of the Opposition, many stories are told—“You cannot do that; hand it to a child”—and tales about elephant charms and all manner of cases. It is not good to give much weight to those, Hon. Leader of the Opposition. We do not intend to.

¶ 02 I have strong confidence in my team, my Government, and my President. The responsibility of the ministerial portfolio has been given to me by the President, not by social media. If I do not discharge it properly, he will tell me. Nevertheless, thank you for your concern, Hon. Leader of the Opposition. Under this Government, not only the independence of the Attorney General but the independence of any institution will be protected while upholding the rule of law and the supremacy of the law. Likewise, regardless of the position or place, if individuals commit offences, we will not hesitate to take action. The only thing is, when we work, we do not drag people like a runaway ox bursting into a wayside shop.

¶ 03 Thank you very much.