Insight By Sunil Kumar

The events of the not too distant past relative to regime change seems to be of little or no  avail relative to Law Enforcement when it comes to the circumstances which forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country. Rajapaksa, long implicated in corruption and draconian measures when he was defense secretary, is also purported to have presided over an economic catastrophe amid allegations of widespread corruption with impunity and the Rajapaksas collectively over periods of political power are accused of bringing the country to her knees economically which appears to have been at least partially set right by present President Ranil Wickremasinghe for which there is much to be thankful for.

However a year later a recent media report suggests that  ” despite some superficial changes, there is no sustained improvement in the country’s economic situation as well as law enforcement that impinges many people’s human rights. The acute shortage of fuel that was the most visible feature of the economic crisis has eased. But more than six million people – nearly 30 percent of the population – are food-insecure and require humanitarian assistance and issues of law enforcement excessively applied in certain parts of the country causing some turmoil which suggest careful addressing by the present administration towards restitution relative to accuracy and verification.

A curious reality has presented itself where the new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe is accused of using the police and military to crack down on protests by some disgruntled citizens which brings to bear many unanswered questions about justification. While the previous government had announced a moratorium on the use of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, to the contrary the present administration is alleged to be using the law to detain student protest leaders and curb unrest which appears to be gathering storm clouds on the horizon where the now dormant Aragalaya is said to be mulling their next moved based on related realities which if accurate does not augur well and cautionary measures by the Administratioin in all probabilities is well advised.

There are talks being conducted presently about variations to the Prevention of Terrorism Act and its replacement which could be purposeful towards a viable change in the country’s climate towards unrest and perhaps a welcome one.

Furthermore a revised counter terrorism law proposed by the new administration which would have handed sweeping powers to the police, the military, and the president and created a set of new speech-related offenses has been put on hold where the administration was forced to pause the legislation amid widespread outrage, but the news is that authorities are nevertheless using other laws to clamp down on free speech which could once again throw the Nation into unnecessary turmoil considering the recent past.

Democracy and the freedom of expression which go hand in hand cannot be compromised towards the continuity of an Administration which has done well towards the recovery of the country where its leaders need to consider the importance of the related freedoms that have resulted in the restoration of a normal order which Sri Lanka is veritably enjoying today that should never be put into jeopardy based on infertile insecurities if they exist and the power of the armed forces to fortify them.

The media report referred to previously also alludes to ” The government also continuing to pursue abusive policies against minorities, such as ‘land grabs’ in the North and East, targeting Tamil and Muslim-owned land, including places of worship, on a variety of pretexts” which if verifiable and accurate needs to be seriously looked into towards restitution and correction as once again there appears to be inalienable democratic rights of citizens being impeded although these accusations may not necessarily bear accuracy relative to the true policies of the President known to have a compassionate view on such matters and someone who acts in conventional wisdom in a professional manner.

Sri Lanka remains tentatively in an economic and cost of living crisis affecting many people  especially the impoverished and the high crimes and misdemeanors in the country rife and excessive  where until complete resolution the Administration needs to recognize that upholding rights and pursuing accountability for grave crimes too is essential towards addressing the country’s problems albeit strong arm tactics never the solution .