‘Mini Ranils’ Take to the Field: Threatening Attacks Target Judiciary and Police
Echoing tactics reminiscent of the attacks on the judiciary during former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure, individuals including Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka and Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam have launched a series of threatening remarks aimed at key state institutions.
Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka, a former advisor to Ranil Wickremesinghe, recently posted a statement on Facebook critiquing the judiciary. He wrote: “Judicial penalism under the guise of the rule of law is where the judiciary appears to protect the rule of law while in reality inflicting severe, vindictive, and strictly literal punishments.” This subtle critique was posted following the High Court sentence imposing the death penalty on former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando regarding their failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks. Through these remarks, Lakthilaka appears to propagate the claim that judicial rulings are delivered to serve the political motives of the current administration.
Following this, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, issued an overt threat aimed directly at the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), stating publicly that he could face death by mob violence on the streets. Despite having legal avenues available – such as appealing to the Police Commission or the judiciary – Kariyawasam chose to deliver open threats before the media.
These developments highlight how political actors are resurrecting intimidating strategies to cast doubt on the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of law enforcement among the public.
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