No more home visits; Ex-Presidents, politicians must report to investigators
– Public Security Minister Sunil Watagala said even former Executive Presidents and senior politicians were now required to appear before law enforcement agencies when summoned for questioning, instead of having investigators visit their residences to record statements.He said the change reflected the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the law was applied equally to everyone, regardless of political status or position.Watagala said the Government had taken firm steps to ensure the independence of state institutions and uphold the rule of law, attributing recent law enforcement successes to the depoliticization of key institutions.
He said institutions including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Attorney General’s Department and the Judiciary were now able to carry out their duties independently without political interference.He said the Government had established a political authority that would not interfere with these institutions, enabling public officials to perform their duties independently and effectively.Watagala said the equal application of the law was a key political commitment of the Government, particularly in dealing with corruption and the alleged theft of state property.
He said Sri Lanka had moved away from a system where the application of the law was influenced by political status, party affiliations or personal connections. Referring to Article 12(1) of the Constitution, Watagala said every person was entitled to equal protection of the law. He said there had been a significant change in the way investigations were conducted, noting that powerful individuals could no longer expect investigators to visit their homes to obtain statements simply because of their positions.
Watagala warned that attempts to evade investigations or justice would no longer succeed, saying law enforcement authorities would continue to pursue suspects regardless of where they were located.He said legal notices could be issued under Section 106 to summon individuals who were in the country, while those who had fled overseas could be pursued through international mechanisms, including Interpol Red Notices, to secure their return to Sri Lanka.The Deputy Minister said 74 individuals allegedly linked to international drug networks had already been apprehended and brought back to Sri Lanka, describing this as an example of the authorities’ efforts to ensure that suspects could not evade justice by leaving the country.