The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Yes, the howling crowd—like bloated-bellied hyenas. Next they talk about “Operation Yuktīya.” Those who lodged false complaints now say we are not delivering justice. Let me clarify. We know that under Deshbandu, “Operation Yuktīya” became a media spectacle, causing significant harm to innocent individuals. Many complaints are now being received, and all of them are being investigated with a view to granting relief where warranted. That is what we are doing.

¶ 02 Then they say the 309 containers matter has been dropped and ask why reports are not tabled. Hon. Deputy Speaker, who uncovered that there were irregularities? A committee appointed by the President—not by the Opposition. People grab bits from that and make a hue and cry. We obtained that report. It should not be tabled in Parliament first. Investigations must proceed and evidence must be uncovered so that offenders can be punished. We cannot do this to please our own supporters or two-thirds; these must be confidential investigations. If someone insists on tabling that report now, often their real intent is to help the culprits. Therefore, I say the investigations are ongoing and have been duly referred.

¶ 03 Then they say, “You do not speak about the political authority behind Deshbandu; you only talk about him.” It is clear: today’s debate is to discuss the abuses and illegalities committed by Deshbandu. Who were the politicians behind him? The then Ranil–Rajapaksa Government; notably the Gotabaya Government, and especially the Ranil administration. The people spoke and sent Ranil Wickremesinghe’s side packing from this Parliament. Gotabaya is gone; Mahinda Rajapaksa is gone. The people sent that political authority home. So why should we now be expected to debate that, as one Hon. Member wishes? We are here to address the matters concerning Deshbandu.

¶ 04 I also say this: we tell public officers to work without fear. As long as you work in good faith, this Government will stand for you and protect you. Most public servants are decent and hardworking. But because of a few who are corrupt, dishonest or politically driven, sometimes the entire service is maligned. We will stand by the honest, hardworking employee. That is our duty.

¶ 05 Some try to raise other issues. Not all require answers. I will set them aside. Those who once sent a plane to fetch dogs now scold us about vehicle use. No misuse has occurred; actions were taken according to law. Because of the Opposition’s conduct, we had to digress. I will now return to the topic.

¶ 06 Hon. Deputy Speaker, what happened fundamentally? The previous IGP C.D. Wickramaratne’s term was extended twice—about three months each—on a “reload” basis by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Then Deshbandu was appointed IGP. Even that was not without issue, because the Constitutional Council had only 4 votes in favour; 5 are required. The Speaker used a casting vote externally to approve it. A motion of no-confidence against the Speaker was brought and debated, but as per then composition, he survived. Subsequently, a court order stayed Deshbandu’s functions due to the 114 matters pending against his appointment. We never spoke here to canvass those charges improperly. The Committee report exists and is before Members—some 700-800 pages.

¶ 07 There were 19 charges. Broadly, they split into two parts. One cluster relates to the Weligama W15 Hotel shooting—Charges 1 to 10 and 13 to 16. Charges 11 and 12 are separate. In Charges 1–10 and 13–16, the allegation is that Deshbandu verbally, without any written order, directed an illegal operation to go to Weligama at night and fire at the W15 Hotel—giving an unlawful order to the team led by Sub-Inspector Maduranga and Inspector Nishantha. The Committee made several observations: Maduranga opened the rear-left door of the van and fired at the hotel. The Weligama mobile patrol jeep arrived, could not fathom what was happening, and, believing a crime was in progress, fired to stop it. One person was injured and, while trying to evade detection by going to Karapitiya instead of Colombo, they were intercepted. After the incident, instead of an impartial investigation, the Committee observed that Deshbandu acted to cover up the incident and protect all involved, indicating his complicity. Within two days of the shooting—without any investigation—he arranged the promotion and an illegal Rs. 1.5 million reward to the family of the police sergeant, Upul, who died in the incident.

¶ 08 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am happy the deceased’s family received money; that is not my point. I am highlighting how the IGP acted. What does this show? Imagine, Hon. Deputy Speaker, the IGP mobilizing the national police—our armed force—to fire on unarmed civilians. What kind of IGP is that? How dangerous would the country be? This is the kind of person the Ranil–Rajapaksa administration tried to make IGP. As Hon. Ananda Wijepala said, he had Supreme Court findings on violating human rights—stripping people and applying Siddhalepa—yet Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed him. “A doctor in every home—Siddhalepa”—ultimately became “Deshbandu’s Siddhalepa.” How can such an inhumane person be IGP?

¶ 09 Charges 17 and 19 relate to his absconding after a warrant by the Matara Court. For the first time in history, an IGP hid from the police out of fear—because under our National People’s Power Government, we enforce the law properly. Even his driver and personal security officer testified how he took cunning steps to evade imminent arrest. Those around him also explained how he avoided court. The report concludes: on the IGP’s orders, a Police Crimes Division team went to Weligama and fired at a private hotel with a police-issued T-56, using a police van, deploying police officers under his command to carry out an illegal shooting at the property of an unarmed civilian to intimidate, and that he thereafter concealed himself in the face of a warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.

¶ 10 Hon. Deputy Speaker, considering these facts, in no country should a person with such conduct remain as IGP.

¶ 11 Why do we obey the law? Not just fear, but because there is a morality behind law. Romans 2:13 says: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” We, the National People’s Power, are the doers. We will uphold the law in this country.

¶ 12 I thank you, Sir.