My dear Harshana, I thought of writing to you even though you must be a very busy man right now. It must also be a time when it feels like ‘all around you are losing their heads and blaming it on you’. I am referring, of course, to last week’s tragic events at the Negombo [...]
While the country has been placed under lockdown, making newspaper distribution impossible, the Sunday Times team produced your favourite Sunday newspaper in digital format to bring you the latest news, feature stories and political commentaries. We are happy to announce that we are giving you free access to our digital paper. Click here to access the free epaper . If you like to be a subscriber to our regular epaper please click here .
I thought of writing to you even though you must be a very busy man right now. It must also be a time when it feels like ‘all around you are losing their heads and blaming it on you’. I am referring, of course, to last week’s tragic events at the Negombo prison that cost at least twenty-seven lives.
There are many stories about what really happened and what went wrong, so many opinions about the officer who shot through a hole in the door and more arguments about who is to blame. A committee has been appointed. Those learned, much respected gentlemen will hopefully get to the truth.
We saw you visit the scene. You also met with prison officers. You became emotional. For once, we didn’t think that you were doing so because there were cameras around you. More importantly, you were courageous enough to say that ‘as the minister in charge of this institution, I take responsibility’.
We respect you for that. It is different to what we have heard from politicians for many years, even those from the ‘ maalimaawa ’. Remember Jayakody when the coal tender issue arose? Or Ranwala when his PhD was questioned? The responses of both had the same theme: ‘it is not my fault’.
Those in the opposition say that if you really want to take responsibility, you must resign. They have done their homework, digging out an old video clip of Anura sahodaraya , then an opposition MP in Parliament, speaking after the Mahara prison riots saying the state is responsible for prisoners’ safety.
Since the Negombo incident, much has been said about the filthy conditions and overcrowding that exist in our prisons. Some blame you for that. Such issues have existed for decades, so blaming you might be opportunistic. Still, after nearly two years, you too seem to have done nothing about them.
You do have questions to answer. The incident didn’t happen at once. On the first day, there were two deaths. Why weren’t measures taken to prevent more? Then, you said those from ‘good schools’ don’t want to become prison officers now. What would Uncle Vasu, the good socialist that he is, say to that?
In some countries, ministers do resign when tragedies like this occur. Still, I don’t think you resigning will achieve anything. This is not an incident for which you were personally responsible. Also, it is not as if the ‘ maalimaawa ’ has so much talent that they can find someone better than you in a hurry!
That hasn’t stopped the opposition, though. They are signing a motion of no confidence against you. They have to be seen to be doing something. It is also amusing to see some of them sign that motion. No doubt they feel strongly about this. They have been remanded recently and are out on bail!
I think you should be glad about the no confidence motion too. With a two-thirds majority, you need not worry about the motion being approved. Also, you get an opportunity to put your views across to the public. Besides, your name will be all over the media. Why wouldn’t you love such free publicity?
You seem to have learnt on the job. Some time ago, you complained to the CID after you were called ‘Dr’, seeing a conspiracy in that, speaking of “fleas remaining even though the dog has left”. You also gave an award to a prison official convicted of murder, even if that conviction was later overturned.
That said, Harshana, this is a good time as any to turn the searchlight inwards on your own overall performance as the person entrusted with the subject of Justice. If you are honest, you will realise that your performance has been less than what was expected of you. In fact, it has been disappointing.
While campaigning, you spoke of repealing the PTA, the Online Safety Act, establishing an office of the Public Prosecutor and enacting a new Constitution. They were major promises, all coming under your purview. Almost two years have passed now. Nothing has happened. That silence is deafening.
This is where we have really lost confidence in you, Harshana. We are not proposing that you should be rushing to Parliament with a new piece of legislation every week like Wijey did under Uncle Ranil. With a third of your term of office over, we don’t see those major promises seeing the light of day.
Then, we hear whispers about changes to the retirement age of those dispensing justice. On principle, there is nothing wrong with that, if it is done across the board, with transparency about what is being proposed. Instead, there is nothing presented to the public formally yet, only rumours and speculation.
You can argue that prison riots are an occupational hazard of your job. In the past fifteen years, when there were riots in Welikada and Mahara, we don’t recall ministers being asked to resign. So, we won’t ask you to do the same. That doesn’t mean you are doing your job well, my learned friend.
PS: You acted in movies as a child, because your late father was a popular director. Actors didn’t make great politicians in Paradise but our politicians are great actors. The exception was Vijaya. This is a tough time for Justice ministers and for Harshanas too. The other Harshana resigned, remember?
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked. Comments should be within 80 words. *
Post Comment Other Columns Neelan Tiruchelvam assassination: Documentary reveals new details Reflections on Sri Lanka’s regaining of upper-middle-income status As Govt grapples with prison riot fallout; debate looms over IMF exit The Negombo prison tragedy: A grim wake-up call for long overdue radical prison reform Accusations fly as Parliament debates deadly Negombo prison riot Negombo’s jail house rock leaves nation garbed in mourning black Readying for the coming war or is it just a verbal skirmish Search The Sunday Times Home Archive Feeds Contact Us RSS ↑ Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
Loading comments…