Vijitha Herath tells Sri Lankans in Melbourne the government is restoring justice, reopening suppressed cases, and ending political interference.
Vijitha Herath delivered a strong message to Sri Lankans in Melbourne, Australia, as he contrasted the conduct of former foreign ministers and political authorities under past governments with what he described as the transparency, accountability, and rule of law followed by the present administration. The special meeting, organized by Sri Lankans living in Melbourne, was held at the Springvale Town Hall.
The Foreign Minister recalled how former foreign ministers, including Rohitha Bogollagama and G.L. Peiris, had previously travelled on foreign tours, stating that presidents and ministers in earlier governments often flew separately on chartered flights with large entourages, spending hundreds of millions of rupees from public funds.
He said there had once been a political culture in which birthdays were celebrated by cutting cakes inside aircraft, while public money was used freely for official travel. In contrast, he said he now undertakes such overseas visits in a modest manner, accompanied only by a small number of officials.
Herath further stated that the current government does not permit political interference in police stations or within the judiciary. While efforts are being made to protect the independence of the courts, he revealed that action has also been taken against more than 50 judges through the Judicial Service Commission as part of moves to eliminate corruption within the judicial system.
The Minister also said that cases involving murders and frauds, which had allegedly been suppressed in the past through political influence, have now been reopened under proper legal procedures.
He noted that Mahindananda Aluthgamage and a former Minister of Trade had been sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the murder case connected to a former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province had also been reopened. He further stated that former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith, together with his family members and secretary, had been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Herath also said legal proceedings are continuing against several individuals, including Namal Rajapaksa, Yositha Rajapaksa, and Sajin Vass Gunawardena.
Referring to former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the Minister said the complaint over the Greek bond fraud, which he himself had filed in 2015, had been suppressed for many years. He stated, however, that the investigations had now succeeded, and that the court had ruled Mr. Cabraal must pay the loss caused to the country.
Commenting on former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, Herath said this was the first time a police officer, alleged to have been linked to fostering a past culture of assassinations, had been removed from office through a constitutional parliamentary motion and an inquiry by a Supreme Court committee.
Concluding the special meeting, the Minister emphasized that the government was not pursuing personal revenge against anyone. He said its position was simply to deliver justice through lawful, transparent, and proper legal processes.
