National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa launched a scathing attack on the police for publicly releasing his investigation statement, calling it a breach of law, dignity, and democracy, while warning of political repression.
National Freedom Front leader and parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa held a fiery media conference today, sharply criticizing the Sri Lanka Police for releasing to the public a statement he gave during an investigation. He described it as an unprecedented and unlawful act that undermines the integrity of the police and damages the credibility of the investigative process.
Weerawansa stressed that under Section 110(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, statements given during investigations must remain strictly confidential. He pointed out that even the individual providing the statement cannot access a copy without legal representation or a court order, underscoring the seriousness of the breach. According to him, making such a statement public, whether accurate or distorted, risks obstructing proper investigations and opens the door to manipulation.
The MP accused the Inspector General of Police of turning the department into what he described as a “JVP Police,” claiming that the Police Media Unit has also been transformed into a propaganda tool. He alleged that the IGP has become the central figure in carrying out government repression, targeting political opponents in line with a partisan agenda. If the IGP cannot protect the dignity of the police force, Weerawansa suggested, he should hand over his uniform to a constable more capable of safeguarding its reputation.
Weerawansa further explained that he was summoned in connection with an investigation into drug traffickers linked to the Tangalle Police. However, the questioning centered not on crime but on political affiliations. He questioned the fairness of such inquiries and accused the police of using him as a pawn in a politically motivated agenda.
Turning his criticism to the broader government, the MP accused leaders of using the police to hunt down opposition figures while the country’s citizens continue to face severe hardships. He highlighted that 12.5 percent of Sri Lanka’s population has slipped into poverty and that patients are dying due to medicine shortages, while resources are wasted on politically driven investigations.
Weerawansa announced plans to file a complaint with the Police Commission and seek legal recourse against what he described as a shortsighted and politically motivated act. He emphasized that if anyone had been prejudiced by his statement, they could take the matter to court, where he would defend himself with facts. He questioned why the police did not directly take legal action if they believed his statement to be false, accusing them instead of staging political tricks.
Commenting on the recent cabinet reshuffle, Weerawansa argued it was engineered to safeguard the Ports and Aviation portfolio, transferring it to individuals more willing to serve hidden interests. He dismissed the reshuffle as superficial, designed to protect political allies rather than address the nation’s economic and development crises.
Weerawansa also referred to a summons he received from the Director General of the Bribery Commission, noting that he never received a follow-up date after requesting rescheduling due to court commitments. He insisted this suggested an effort to manufacture allegations rather than pursue legitimate wrongdoing.
Concluding his remarks, Weerawansa declared he could not be silenced by political intimidation. Using a metaphor, he warned that those who attempted to leave the “blue bus” of political loyalty risked falling off the “red bus into a precipice,” underscoring his view that the government’s current trajectory was dangerously misguided.
