Anti-corruption drive should not be aimed at silencing critics

THE Ministry of Public Security has instructed the Police to complete the establishment of Public Safety Committees across the country by 20 June. A circular has been issued regarding the establishment of 14,022 Public Safety Committees, covering every Grama Niladhari division in the country.

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This initiative aims to strengthen police-community relations, promote peace and security, combat crime and drug-related threats and to foster interfaith harmony with each committee consisting of a designated police officer, retired public servants, former police and military officers, and youth representatives.

While such initiatives are welcome, there are serious questions about national security of the country which neither the Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala nor his deputy Sunil Watagala has been able to answer convincingly.

Ananda Wijepala once headed the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat under the Yahapalanaya Government when the JVP had another of its brief flirtations with the Government in power. Hundreds of files were filled with documents of cases of corruption but the work was left half-done due to infighting within the Yahapalanaya Government. It’s these same files that President Anura Kumara Disanayake and some in his party have been displaying at various public forums with pledges to punish those against whom there are substantial charges of bribery and corruption.