August 24, Colombo (LNW): Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has released a strongly worded statement expressing deep concern over the arrest and remand of fellow former head of state Ranil Wickremesinghe, warning that the episode signals a broader threat to Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions.
In the statement, Kumaratunga criticised the timing and manner of the arrest, noting that it occurred when the relevant investigation was reportedly nearing completion. She described the move as deeply troubling, suggesting it may reflect more than just a legal process at work.
“What we are witnessing is a calculated onslaught on the very essence of our democratic values,” the former president stated. “The consequences of this go far beyond the fate of an individual or any political grouping, and involve peril for the rights of our society as a whole.”
Kumaratunga, who served as president from 1994 to 2005, warned that undermining democratic norms for political expedience sets a dangerous precedent — one that could ultimately erode civil liberties and institutional credibility across the board.
She called on all political leaders, regardless of affiliation, to stand in firm opposition to such practices. “I wholeheartedly join in expressing my unreserved opposition to these initiatives, which all political leaders are duty-bound to resist,” the statement read.
