Charith Abeysinghe’s arrest draws a sharp response from Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara during Parliament’s drug menace debate.
Charith Abeysinghe’s arrest became a key flashpoint in Parliament today (25), as Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara questioned what action Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa would take against him.
Participating in the adjournment debate brought before Parliament by the government party on the fight against the drug menace, the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney Harshana Nanayakkara, said the law had previously not applied equally to those with wealth and power.
He stated that the situation had now changed, and that everyone was equal before the law.
Speaking further, the Minister said:
“Our government has taken measures to ensure the independence of the judiciary and protect democracy in order to establish the rule of law, as mentioned by the President. We will stop illegal activities being carried out unlawfully in the country. We will enforce the law equally for all.
“For so long, the law did not apply to those with wealth and power. Both Rakitha Rajapaksa, a lawyer who maintained corrupt relations with underworld gang member Nadun Chinthaka, and Charith Abeysinghe, the Horana constituency organizer of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, have been arrested. We are waiting to see what disciplinary action the Opposition Leader will take regarding that organizer. This government came to power to change this political culture.
“We will abolish the PTA. Governments that came to power since 1979 have said this. We will change it. This must be changed carefully. The President has also stated that the PTA will be abolished within two months. Legislation cannot be drafted hastily. It is because the people know that we will do these things properly that they gave us the government and gave them the opposition.
“The President clarified the matter regarding the appointment of judges. Previously, the Justice Minister and the President would together appoint whoever they wanted. Now we have given the Chief Justice the freedom to appoint from the bottom up. There are many vacancies in the lower courts. This is being done by appointing from the bottom up. Considering it as a system, the vacancies are being filled. Previously, the Supreme Court heard cases only two or three days a week. Now they hear cases all five days.
“The container incident was mentioned. What has happened is that they themselves claimed it was a lie, and now they themselves are trapped. There has never been a government that is more responsible and more transparent than this. We act according to the fundamental principles of justice and law.
“When speaking about drugs, the Opposition Leader spoke about Singapore’s laws. We ask the Opposition Leader: if your government comes to power, will you implement the death penalty for drug traffickers? As a party, as a policy, we do not support the death penalty. We will take all necessary measures to suppress drugs and the underworld.
“From 2025 to date, approximately 23,692 kilograms of drugs have been seized through drug raids. Heroin seizures have increased threefold. There is a trafficking network for everything illegal in this country. Lawyers who wear silk in this country are also among them. That is what was shown today.
“In the past 24 months, 21 international drug traffickers have been arrested. Red notices have been issued against 95 main Sri Lankan drug traffickers operating abroad. Can the Opposition Leader control his team? We will see what action is taken regarding Charith Abeysinghe,” the Minister also stated.
Harshana is no virgin. He has bigger issues behind his back. He represented the Easter Sunday accused. How can these guys talk?