April 15, 2012, -WDK-10.jpg)
By Milinda Rajasekera
The constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka gives immunity from law suits under Article 35 only to the President of the country. But now it appears that there is a lot of politicians and others enjoying this privilege with protection and patronage offered by institutions and individuals wielding power. This privileged category of people operating in various fields of activity in this country indulges in all sorts of illegal and unethical activities with impunity. They commit crime, misuse state property, abuse power, defame and threaten people, humiliate and ridicule opponents, market drugs and indulge in unfair trade practices. In short, they have become a law unto themselves.
There is a combination of forces that permits, connives or assists them in conducting themselves in this contemptible manner. Political protection comes first. It is under the protective political umbrella they generally operate. This protection is not offered by any political party as such but by certain powerful persons in political parties who extend such support to these unscrupulous persons in return for assistance they get from them particularly for their political activities. The other supportive force is the police. The police provide this immunity either at the behest of political authorities or on their own volition for various favours received by them. It is the political power they depend on for obtaining undue promotions and unfair transfers. Read more...
