Sri Lanka has a troubled history with politics and human rights. The country has experienced instances of revenge, murder, and disappearances.
These issues can be traced back to the political conditions following independence from Britain.
The political culture that emerged after independence led to a situation where anyone attempting to challenge the status quo was marginalised.
As a result, many in Sri Lankan society believe that the political culture has become a dysfunctional system that suppresses dissenting voices.
Exploring the History of Political Criminal Activity in Sri Lanka
The assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike is a pivotal and tragic event in the history of Sri Lanka.
This act of violence marked the beginning of a series of targeted killings of prominent political figures, such as Ranasinghe Premadasa and Gamini Dissanayake, at the hands of terrorists, notably the L.T.T.E.
The alarming trend of political assassinations can be traced back to the targeted killing of Alfred Duraiappah, signalling a dark and turbulent period in the country’s political landscape.
However, a different situation arose later. In addition to the killings of the terrorists, a wave of violence swept through the region, resulting in numerous other killings and disappearances.
This included targeted attacks on journalists, civil activists, and ordinary civilians. The lack of fair justice for the victims and their families was particularly striking.
Each time a new government emerged, there was hope that meaningful action would be taken to address these tragic events.
Despite grand promises made on the election platforms, the reality fell short, and the people’s expectations were left unfulfilled.
The significant changes in the political landscape that have unfolded
After a significant shift in the political landscape in Sri Lanka, the left-wing National People’s Power party achieved a victory in the presidential election, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the helm.
President Dissanayake has pledged to address contentious issues, signalling a positive approach towards fulfilling these commitments. It remains to be seen how these promises will be translated into action.
Resumption of investigations into crimes suppressed due to political influence
The Criminal Investigation Department has recently reopened investigations into seven criminal cases that were previously suppressed and set aside due to political pressure. This decision was made following the orders of Acting Inspector General of Police Advocate Priyantha Weerasuriya.
Retired Senior D.I.G. Ravi Seneviratne, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, presided over a high-level meeting at the police headquarters to address covert criminal activities.
The Acting Inspector General of Police and several senior officers of the Criminal Investigation Department actively engaged in the discussion.
The authorities have directed the Criminal Investigation Department to thoroughly investigate the Easter attack incident that transpired during the previous government’s tenure.
It has been emphasised that all suspects must be apprehended regardless of rank. Furthermore, urgent action has been mandated to conclude the investigation into the bond fraud that occurred during the same period.
The perpetrators of this fraud are to be swiftly identified and brought to account for their actions.
Also, the authorities have made the decision to reopen the investigation into the highly controversial murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga, which took place during the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.
In addition, the decision has been made to halt the investigations into the murder of the prominent rugby player Wasim Tajudeen and the disappearance of journalist Pradeep Eknaligoda.
The troubling case involves the abduction of 11 Tamil youths for ransom, following which they vanished without a trace.
Authorities have issued directives to thoroughly investigate the matter. In a separate incident, the MiG deal was scrutinised for alleged financial severe misconduct.
Reports indicate that the Criminal Investigation Department has been ordered to reopen the investigation and promptly apprehend the suspects.
The murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga
Lasantha Wickramatunga, a prominent journalist and the fearless editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, tragically lost his life on January 8, 2009, in the Atthidiya area of Ratmalana.
Heartfelt commemorations take place in his honour each year at the Borella cemetery, where he was laid to rest. Despite the passage of time, his family, along with civil and media organisations, continue to lament the absence of justice for his murder.
The Criminal Investigation Department, entrusted with leading the investigation, has reported compelling evidence implicating the Sri Lanka Army’s Intelligence Division in the heinous crime.
Nevertheless, the crucial question of who ordered the assassination of Lasantha Wickramatunga remains unanswered, leaving a painful void in the quest for closure and accountability.
The abduction of journalist Keith Noir, which occurred a few months before Lasanta’s murder, remains a particularly noteworthy case with ongoing legal implications.
In 2018, the Criminal Investigation Department conducted enquiries involving former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and retired Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka about the Noir kidnapping incident.
Tajudheen’s murder
Tajuddin’s untimely demise ignited a firestorm of controversy across the nation. A dedicated investigation team brought to the attention of the court the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Wasim Tajuddin, who tragically perished on May 17, 2012, when the car he was in caught fire on Park Road near Narahenpita Shalika Stadium.
This revelation prompted a thorough inquiry. Initially, authorities had classified the incident as an accidental death.
Thajudhin’s grieving relatives vehemently contested the initial conclusion and pressed for a formal police investigation.
Against this backdrop, the government, led by Maithripala Sirisena since 2015, launched its own inquiries into the incident.
Subsequently, on July 27, 2015, the Criminal Investigation Department formally apprised the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that Thajudhin’s demise was not the result of a car accident but a deliberate act of murder, based on their comprehensive investigative efforts.
In August 2015, the remains of Wasim Tajuddin were identified by his siblings at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
The body, which had been buried in the cemetery of the Jumma Mosque in Dehiwala, was exhumed and examined.
Following an investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department disclosed that Tajuddin had suffered physical trauma, including broken ribs, before his death, leading to suspicions of foul play.
The Easter bombing
The devastating Easter Sunday bombing in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, specifically targeted churches and hotels, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and leaving thousands of others grappling with physical and emotional pain.
This heinous attack instilled deep fear and had profoundly adverse effects on the entire nation of Sri Lanka.
The devastating series of explosions occurred at the revered St. Anthony’s Church and St. Sebastian’s Cathedral in Colombo, the historic Zion Church in Batticaloa, as well as the prestigious Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Kingsbury Hotel, and Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.
The Tropical Inn in Dehiwala and a Housing Complex in Dematagoda were also targeted in the coordinated attacks. The toll from the Easter Sunday attack stood at a staggering 273 lives lost, with over 500 individuals suffering life-altering injuries.
The conflicting reports regarding the number of casualties only add to the tragedy of this horrific event.
The lack of political will from the existing governments to investigate the root cause of the attack is glaring. Despite numerous efforts, justice for the victims remains elusive, casting a shadow over the entire situation.
The Bank bond deal
During the era of the good governance government led by Maithripala Sirisena, which began in 2015, a significant transaction took place.
According to the financial data released by the government, the profit of the Perpetual Treasuries Company, owned by the son-in-law of Arjun Mahendran, who was the Governor of the Central Bank, saw a substantial increase of 434 per cent.
By March of that year, the company’s profit alone had soared to 5.1 billion rupees.
Perpetual Treasuries is the controversial company involved in the bond deal. Arjun Mahendran was appointed the Governor of the Central Bank by the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The fraud that occurred during that time is considered to be the biggest in Sri Lanka’s history. This is particularly significant because the loss from the relevant fraud affects the future for as much as 30 years.
Former central bank governor Arjun Mahendran, who was accused of the incident, is currently out of the country.
The company in question was found to have engaged in unethical practices to generate excessive profits.
They accomplished this by procuring large quantities of bonds at low prices from primary buyers and then selling them at inflated prices to secondary buyers.
This fraudulent scheme artificially deflates bond prices by falsely inflating the interest rates. For example, they sold bonds to Perpetual at 11.28 when the natural interest rates were much lower in the 8 decimal places.
