By AHRC –
The Minister of Health, Maithripala Sirisena, was reported as saying that 65 percent of the cases before the courts in Polunowara district concern rape, child abuse and the harassment of women. He also said that this has created great discouragement in his own political life. The minister made this statement at a conference held at the Medirigiriya National School to mark the International Day of Women. He attributed this increase in crimes of the sexual abuse of women and children to the use of telephones, laptop computers and television.
Maithripala Sirisena| File photo
If the minister is really concerned about the increase of these crimes what he should look into is the failure of the law enforcement systems in Sri Lanka, which is the direct result of the political measures taken by the government. The government has virtually made the civilian policing system dysfunctional. The minister himself voted for the 18th Amendment to the Constitution which paralysed the only way that any country controls serious crime; that is through an effective civilian policing system.
Minister Sirisena, being one of the more senior members of the government, if he is, as he says, concerned about the increase of crimes against women and children, he should take up that matter with the executive president and the government. If such increase in crime has been an issue that has caused great discouragement in his political life then it is his duty to take it up with the government and demand a change of policy which could reestablish Sri Lanka’s civilian policing system which is the only instrument through which an effective strategy for the prevention of, or at least limiting of such crimes could take place.
The minister has also said that since Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country there is no need to commemorate the women’s day as the Buddhist environment and the culture guarantees freedom for women. Neither Buddhism nor any other religion can take the place of the basic legal structure when it comes to the protection of women or anyone else for that matter. When politicians, in order to abuse power, virtually destroy the civilian policing system, the blame for that should not be placed on Buddhism or any other religion. No culture can flourish when lawlessness is spread throughout the land.
Minister Sirisena cannot on the one hand support the country’s executive presidential system as it exists now which destroys all the public institutions in the country and at the same time claim that he is deeply concerned about the increase of crimes against women and children. The political responsibility for the increase of these crimes and the insecurity caused to women and children lies with the government as long as the legal institutions, which have the function of providing security to the citizens is allowed to be destroyed.
Sofia / March 20, 2013
This man is being marginalised by MR, paving the way BR to take over premiership. Looking back the course of appointments in his Government, amidst the contra opinions against BR ^S seniority – MR could appoint him next as the next PM.
MR is unpredictable by all means, this he has bee proving since he is in the office. However, reality as history makes it clear – authoritarian rule can not exist forever at this stage of the world.
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Dodo / March 20, 2013
Sirisena is a crook and practices the same looting as the Rajapassa family dictatorship. His son is a goon who attacked a DIG’s son in one of Basil Rajapassa’s hotel’s in Passikudha – Malu Malu which is built on land looted from Tamil speaking Adivasi communities in the Eastern Province Batticaloa District.
Siresena’s brother looted reservation land on the bund of the the Parakrama Samudra and built a massive hotel – Sudu Arliya – and has caused an environmental disaster for the farmers of Pollonaruwa whose crops are constantly flooded because of the loss of water shed.
Politicians and military in the Wonder of Asia have stolen lands, built hotels, caused environmental disasters for farmers and are living the high life and beat each other up sometimes in their Hotels while farmers and professionals of Lanka suffer in silence or commit suicide!
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Citizen / March 20, 2013
Dodo, you have pointed out correctly. Agreed.
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P.B / March 20, 2013
Your primary responsibility is to teach your own children right and wrong. I can tell you with a lot of confidence that no child of mine would tolerate, or encourage any member of a group ,they are with to strip in a public place, or pose nude in front of others, specially women, and children let alone take photographs of, women with naked friends or foe in the process. What third rate rubbish behavior is that?
If they were not in a position to control the situation they would leave. I say this because my children hopefully ,given the money may, not clamor to have lambroginis and Ferraris, they have enough confidence to feel tall as they are. Most children I know are like this. They too are Sri Lankan. They would opt to have a good degree from a prestigious university rather than , lie to people go to parliament with out even your basic education, cheet at exams and steel from the country!!!!
sirisenas ,Rambukwellas ,Ratwattes , wijeratnas and Sivas to name a few think the car they drive, and a few security, they are not entitled to,makes them “men”
Shut up the whole lot of you. The president downwards can not stop lying. Bring up your own children to be responsible human beings
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Peace Lover / March 20, 2013
we all know that Minister but 1st you bring your own house in order and discipline your own son then try to find fault in the country!
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lionel / March 21, 2013
Women aren’t safe anywhere in the world. More than 35 women are raped a week in Sri Lanka. According to the UK government, half a million women suffered sexual abuse, and another 1.2 million other forms of domestic abuse last year in the UK.
What is the cause of this sad situation? Can tough laws and policing alone arrest this sad trend? I think, not.
Tough laws, and strict policing are important. But they alone aren’t adequate. The plight of women in our societies is the result of systemic failure. We have systems, where free mixing is promoted, women are rewarded for shedding clothes etc. At least some of the sexual attacks are the result of sexual provocation by women.
Perhaps, we should ask ourselves if there are religions and philosophies that we haven’t explored that may have answers to this problem, offering an alternate system. Islam might have answers for some of the problems. But the secular fundamentalism and other forms Islamophobia is unlikely to let us do that, make a sincere inquiry into islam looking for solutions.
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siri / March 23, 2013
What is the real reason …
Do the people look for alternatives because of the high cost of sex in S/L ?
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lionel / March 24, 2013
siri,
high cost might be a cause. Prostitutes charging too much, and men becoming selfish and not wanting to shoulder the economic burden of having a wife… etc may actually cause some men to rape. Worth exploring…
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Native Vedda / March 24, 2013
lionel
“not wanting to shoulder the economic burden of having a wife… etc may actually cause some men to rape.”
The men are repulsive. Lankan women don’t like their Sri Lankan men, hence men are deprived of regular sex.
Men starved of sex force their way into women’s knickers. The men like the physical exercise as this is considered to be the pride of the prick.
However these stupid men don’t understand love making.
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A.Guruge / March 21, 2013
Sirisena is one of the few ministers in present cabinet who speaks
something original,sensible and truthful.He sees many facets of a problem where other ministers are blind to.He is honest,down to earth and practical.To me he appears more like W.Dahanayake of Galle, always
telling something new to the public.Daha was not married and had no problems from siblings.Sirisena has and that is part of life. I wish him luck.
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gamini / March 21, 2013
Bambuwata, bambu gahanawa.
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P.B / March 22, 2013
Hello! Mr Guruge which plannet are you from? When you are a part of a government who, robs its people loot and plunder the country, rape women kill tourists, and even your own son goes to a destination we, are trying to sell as a heaven for tourists, and behaves like a lowly bread dog from the street? All this only so you can scrounge on poor Sri Lankans. these are unforgivable parasitic worms . if he had any principles leave the government when they raise electricity bills due to their mismanagement. Poor Dahanayake must be turning in his grave!!!!
Look at Hemekumara Nanayakkara!! He left he is leading his own life with out being a parasite of this country. He obviously loves this country. He does not need to be compared to any body. He is his own man a true Hero of this nation!!!
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A Siri Lankan / March 23, 2013
Ho..ly C..p.
How can any sane person compare this crook to “Daha”? Oh my God WD must be turning in his grave.
Any one from this bunch of crooks is not not suitable to shine the shoes of the worst politician of Daha’s days.
Oh Dear Mr. Guruge, when were you reborn?
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ASIF / March 23, 2013
Where is that Balu sena? Arent they worried about so much rape taking Place to buddhist women? Casinos around the country,increase drug trafficking,increase crime rates,corruptions,break of Law and order etc.
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