Open letter to President Anura Kumara...

A letter written by Attorney-at-Law Ravi Jayawardena to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his Facebook page, asking whether it is possible to hold a fair and just trial while keeping an indicted minister in the executive branch, has been posted.

The full letter written by him is given below.

Dear Comrade Anura,

This is regarding the Minister in your cabinet who has been indicted by the High Court.

Mr. President,

When Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero launched the National Movement for Social Justice in 2011, you were the first political party leader that the venerable monk met with. I hope you remember the discussion and matters discussed at the meeting held at the Pelawatte office to build a just and equitable society in this country. 

Subsequently, your contribution and efforts helped form the much-anticipated 'Good Governance' government under the leadership of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena. (It is a separate matter that those hopes did not materialise due to the erroneous objectives of that government.)

Additionally, I would also like to recall how you, as an opposition member of parliament, and I, as the Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, jointly and individually raised the issue about the illegal and undemocratic governance of the previous government.

I believe that allowing a minister who has been indicted to remain in the executive branch will hinder a fair and just trial. Therefore, as you are a leader who believes in democratic governance, I kindly request you to temporarily remove the minister from office until the trial is over.

Ravi Jayawardana