Why has Sri Lanka descended to this lower depth? The intelligence officer’s revelation is not unique. People are exposed to mega lies all the time. Antennas brings bring such lies to homes day and night, every day.
by Basil Fernando
According to a media report, a former army intelligence officer told the Mount Lavinia Magistrate last week (12 May) that he was told by the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) to claim that a top army official was involved in the killing of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha. Such a statement made to court should lead to inquiry.
However, due to the absence of respect for the principles of rule of law in Sri Lanka now, even a statement made to the court on such an important issue is not likely to lead to any inquiry. The only and predictable outcome is that the person making such a revelation may get into serious trouble.
However, due to the absence of respect for the principles of rule of law in Sri Lanka now, even a statement made to the court on such an important issue is not likely to lead to any inquiry. The only and predictable outcome is that the person making such a revelation may get into serious trouble.
Sri Lanka’s mockery of law has reached that point. An attempt to fabricate criminal charges is an offence recognized under the penal code. Doing so regarding a top military officer is worse. When the person making such a request to fabricate charges is an officer holding the position of OIC of a unit as powerful as the Terrorist Investigation Department, it is still worse. If there is such scheming about criminal offences, what security can there be for any citizen?
If this former intelligence officer succumbed to the suggestion for whatever reason, the outcome could have been a major news story, saying that an intelligence officer states that a top military officer is involved in killing Lasantha. Whatever be the final outcome of such an allegation, this alone would have been enough to damage the reputation of someone. What is more, the government could claim that they have resolved the mystery about the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge. That would have been a mega lie, which would have confused local as well as international audiences.
Why has Sri Lanka descended to this lower depth? The intelligence officer’s revelation is not unique. People are exposed to mega lies all the time. Antennas brings bring such lies to homes day and night, every day.
( W.J. Basil Fernando is a Sri Lankan born jurist, author, poet, human rights activist, editor. He can be reached at basil.fernando@ahrc.asia)
