Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has clarified that the government has not made any Cabinet decision to remove the Attorney General, despite rumors circulating on social media. Speaking to a weekend newspaper, the Minister emphasized that such a decision has not been taken, nor can he, as the Minister of Justice, make such a determination alone.
Addressing the growing speculation, Nanayakkara noted that social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube have contributed to the spread of unverified claims. While reaffirming the government’s commitment to freedom of speech, he pointed out that much of the information being circulated online consists of personal interpretations and one-sided narratives.
The Minister acknowledged that the Attorney General traditionally does not issue public statements, as the office has maintained a 200-year-old precedent of being answerable only to Parliament and not engaging in political discourse. However, he suggested that given the rise of social media and the increasing public scrutiny of government institutions, it might be beneficial for the Attorney General to publicly clarify certain matters when allegations arise.
“If the Attorney General chooses to respond to public concerns, the citizens of this country, who are fair and reasonable people, will be able to assess both sides of the issue,” Nanayakkara stated. He argued that this could help prevent misinformation and provide clarity on the Attorney General’s role and decisions.
Reiterating that not everything on social media is factual, the Minister urged the public to be cautious when consuming online content and emphasized that the government has not taken any official action regarding the Attorney General’s position.
