In a significant turn of events that captivated the nation, Sanduru Kumarasinghe, the whistleblower who exposed a tourist visa scam, earned himself a moral victory and also one for the general public who supported him, when in a parliamentary ordeal earlier today, the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles retracted his aggressive actions taken against him.
Sanduru Kumarasinghe became a household name overnight when a video of him confronting visa and other officials at Colombo airport went viral. His bold inquiries into the suspicious handling of a visa-on-arrival procedure caught the attention of the public and officials alike. The process, tainted by allegations of corruption involving a foreign company authorized to process these visas, was put under scrutiny thanks to Kumarasinghe’s bold and courageous stand.
The saga escalated when Kumarasinghe was later summoned by the police for questioning. This move, sanctioned by Minister Alles, drew widespread criticism not only from the general public but also from prominent figures such as Sajith Premadasa, the Opposition Leader and a candidate for the upcoming Presidential election. In a fiery session in parliament, Premadasa lambasted the Minister, highlighting the democratic rights of the citizenry.
“He (Kumarasinghe) was within his right to question what was happening. This is a democracy and not a police state. No one has a right to suppress freedom of speech,” Premadasa declared, echoing the sentiments of many.
Adding to the chorus of support was former President of the Bar Association, Saliya Peiris, who questioned the grounds on which Kumarasinghe was being detained.
“On what grounds is the whistleblower being taken in for questioning by the Police?” Peiris asked, challenging the actions of Minister Alles in a post that went viral on social media.
The public, also undeterred by the recently enforced Online Bill aimed at curtailing media freedoms, rallied on social media platforms, showing immense support for Kumarasinghe. This digital uproar proved to be a significant force, illustrating the power of collective civilian action in the face of governmental overreach.
In the face of mounting pressure and public scrutiny, Minister Alles was compelled to address the matter in Parliament, where he notably softened his stance.
“We only wanted to find out what his problem was and whether there was any politics involved. It was normal police procedure and the matter will not be taken forward,” Alles stated, effectively making a public concession that Kumarasinghe’s questioning would cease from here onward.
This development marked a substantial retreat for Alles, who has previously drawn criticism for his harsh law enforcement policies, including statements supporting police’s use of lethal force and the concerning rise in police custodial deaths. These issues have painted Alles as a figure of authority and feared by many, mainly by drug lords and mafia dons who the authorities under his watch as Minister have been hunting them down.
Kumarasinghe, prior to his parliamentary vindication, made an impassioned plea to the public and the media from outside the police station where he was to be questioned.
“I heard that my life was in danger after I spoke out against the visa scam at the airport and the police wanted to question me. But I appeal to the media and especially the intelligent youth of this country to stay strong in the face of injustice and stand up for what is right and not cave in. Don’t be afraid to speak-up. Come forward. I salute everybody who was with me on this issue,” he said, reinforcing his commitment to fighting corruption.
The whistleblower’s ordeal and subsequent exoneration have not only exposed systemic issues within the visa processing system but have also ignited a broader conversation about civil liberties and government accountability in Sri Lanka.
Kumarasinghe’s battle, supported widely by the Opposition, legal experts, and the general public, serves as a poignant reminder of the strength of democratic engagement and the importance of safeguarding freedom of speech in the face of adversity.
Let’s stand tall to safeguard our right to freedom of speech in the face of repressive laws to stifle our freedom enshrined in the constitution.
Scam at the KIA is not new. Not only arrivals, even those who depart on visit visa are ripped off at the departure immigration counter. Low profile visitors to abroad, especially Tamils, with visas are selectively sent to a room from the departure immigration counter and inside that room they are demanded 100 dollars to allow them to depart. This is well documented now and the matter is being brought to the attention of the Bribery Commissioners. In one instant, the visitor who had no money to pay was sent back without allowing him to board the plane!
If opposition leader Sajit is smart he should bring Sanduru Kumarasinghe and Saliya Peris to his party and make them star candidates for the next general elections, I’m very much confident that the general public will overwhelmingly support the decision, we need people like them to clean up the corrupted dirty politics