Politicisation of crimes might save the real criminals

¢ killing of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara on a busy day of his council in broad daylight on October 22. and its aftermath has raised many questions with regard to the safety of people’s representatives, insensitivity of politicians and the media towards victims of crimes and the continued politicisation of crimes.

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The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), which the slain politician represented, seemed to be in a haste to put the blame for the crime on the government and the government in turn seemed to be in a similar haste to identify the victim and his party with the underworld.

The SJB accused the government of not providing Wickramasekara with adequate security despite his requests for the same, citing threats he had received in recent days. Some of the SJB leaders even attempted to implicate the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) in the crime. In response, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, indicating that the killing of the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman was the result of a rivalry between underworld gangs, told Parliament that Wickramasekara had been an accused in six ongoing court cases and he was already serving a suspended prison term.

Interestingly, no party denied these mutual allegations. Minister Wijepala, acknowledging the allegation levelled by the SJB, stated that there are no legal provisions for a government to provide security for a registered criminal. On the other hand, SJB did not deny what the minister stated about the track record of the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman.