19 March, 2024

Blog

Was Bail Granted To Jaffna Mayor By The Government Or By Courts?

By C.V. Wigneswaran

Before Jaffna Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan was granted bail on Friday night by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, Hon’ Minister Douglas Devananda had issued a statement to the media that the President was going to pardon Manivannan. The Hon’ Minister had stated (i) that Manivannan would be released on bail (ii) that he would not be charged under the PTA (iii) that he would be charged under the normal law.

Jaffna Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan

This statement of the Hon’ Minister raises the question whether Courts and the Police in this country are only existing nominally functioning in consonance with the whims and preferences of the President and his Government. The statement of the Hon’ Minister also brings out the fact, that Manivannan had been arrested for political reasons. If the President had consented to pardon Manivannan it would mean that Manivannan had committed some offence. But the Police had not proved in Court that Manivannan had committed any offence. Therefore on what basis did the President consent to “pardon” Manivannan?

Just as the Hon’ Minister said Manivannan was indeed released on bail and he was not charged under the PTA. But I am told that the submissions of the Police and that of Manivannan’s lawyers were heard before the Jaffna Court and thereafter only the Court decided to grant bail.

The fact that Hon’ Minister Devananda had stated even before Manivannan was taken to Courts that the President had consented to pardon and that Manivannan would be granted bail and that the Police would be acting in consonance with what he has stated, brings out the fact as to what extent the Police Department and the Courts had lost their independence. We could take these incidents as amounting to contempt of the Courts and the Police Department.

It is necessary that the President and the Hon’ Minister Devananda do issue a statement in this regard. If ordinary citizens are going to be harassed in accordance with the whims and fancies of those in authority, of what use are the Courts? Are the Police People’s Police or hand-maids of the President? We need an explanation.

*Justice C.V. Wigneswaran – Member of Parliament, Jaffna District

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Latest comments

  • 37
    5

    Deva said to media because he appointed Manivannan as the mayor of Jaffna, he ordered King to release him.
    Deva had nine lives during LTTE time, but still somebody has to read Deva’s horoscope and see the matters in that. The Saturn(Sani) is wandering all the houses in the town these days.

    • 33
      9

      Wigneswaran, you should have done this when you were chief minister, by having your own law enforcement officers in moral values and for land management, which is in accordance with constitutional provisions of police and land powers. Instead of that you wasted time in passing genocide resolution which is only of academic value. You could have maintained these officers from the money you returned back to treasury. This is a brilliant move, whether done intentionally or by chance. There is no act of terrorism for anyone to be charged under PTA, and there is no cause for charging under normal law either. Government has blundered and is finding an escape route using their lackey Devananda. Now all local bodies controlled by Tamils must have enforcement officers wearing the same outfit. We need brave people to take the racist state head on, and not hood winkers making speeches in parliament, issuing press releases or meeting foreign dignitaries.

      • 14
        4

        While agreeing with your overall response, your criticism of Mr. Wigneswaran is not called for.

        • 11
          6

          You seem to be a person who cannot accept constructive criticism. Wigneswaran has demonstrated that he has no organisational skills necessary for a chief minister and his leadership skill is questionable. He demonstrated leadership skill in his early days at Royal College and Law College, but after becoming a judge, he had lost it. He had never been a head of a government department, boss of a commercial establishment or at least president of a cultural or social association, and naturally lacked organisational skill. During the last election, I recommended to the voters to get him elected to parliament, as it is the place he should be, and the voters had correctly obliged. However his rhetoric in parliament is not going to help to win the rights of Tamils.

          • 8
            5

            Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam,
            You are wrong in this instance.
            He (Justice Wigneswaran) demonstrated leadership skill in his early days at Royal College and Law College, but after becoming a judge, he had lost it, smacks of bias.
            It is difficult to believe that you’d sell your intelligence to make such a statement.
            Leadership skill is inborn. It cannot be developed or destroyed.

            • 5
              9

              GS could not have been at Royal College during CVW’s ‘early days’ there, let alone Law College?
              Many have said that CVW showed character as judge at Mallakam Courts.
              *
              “Leadership skill is inborn. It cannot be developed or destroyed.”
              Will that make a strong case for the Hindu Caste System?

              • 4
                5

                Sivasegaram, if you dot know English, do not display your ignorance. Early days does not mean only primary school period. I was at Royal when he was a prefect. I never claimed to be at law college. For your information I was admitted for Law course at University of Colombo, which I did not, in order to pursue a career in medicine. At my time at Royal, only those with middle level intelligence took up law.

                • 3
                  3

                  GS
                  I did not ask for your CV.
                  You wrote: “… in his early days at Royal College “
                  How do you interpret this? Form I, II, III, IV, V, VI? Be serious.
                  *
                  You were a tiny tot and claim to have judged the leadership skills of someone in Form Upper VI.
                  Stop being judgmental. You know next to nothing about his academic or professional career.
                  *
                  “At my time at Royal, only those with middle level intelligence took up law.”
                  Do you know Prof Sornaraja, a brilliant legal academic, just an year junior to CVW.
                  Then many people did Arts by choice. The university had many brilliant academics in the Humanities in the 1960s.
                  *
                  There was also the commonly held belief at the time that students who were not up to scratch in mathematics opted for biological sciences.
                  Any comments?

            • 5
              3

              Any skill can either be inborn or developed by coaching. Good example is sports. Secondly if you do not practice your skill, it will be lost. Good example is surgery. I assessed him without any bias, and I am spot on. No doubt he had been a good judge and is versed in history, but that does not mean that he is good at everything. Leadership is about leading from the front to deliver which he did not demonstrate as chief minister.

              • 4
                3

                You are wrong again Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam.
                We are not speaking of any skill; we are speaking of a specific skill, – Leadership skill.
                I’ll stay away from your hatred of Justice Wignewaran, – developed for sure!

          • 10
            6

            By the way are you the so called economics expert brought down from Australia to advise the council by the chief minister. If you are related to him, is this not a case of nepotism. Can you detail your contribution to the development of the province which should deliver justice to the amount of public money you were paid.

            • 5
              6

              CT
              How personally nasty can one get?
              Wake up your moderators.

              • 4
                2

                Can you complain in your private email letters to CT , please , that in addition to their nastiness, they are hypocrites, distract-ors, paid employees of Aanduwa and they challenge and ridicule others’ writings, too.

          • 6
            5

            “During the last election, I recommended to the voters to get him elected to parliament, as it is the place he should be, and the voters had correctly obliged.”
            *
            What humility!

          • 7
            2

            There are two distinct skills among others for an effective leaders. One is leadership skill and the other is managerial skill.

            A Leader deals with people whereas managers manage all resources including human resources.

            Not all leaders are good as managers.

            There are in born leaders as well as trained leaders.

            Many universities conduct courses on leadership, leadership skills and leadership style as well as on managemnent , managerial skills and so on.

            Mahathma Gandhi, Nehru, Mao, Lenin, Winston Churshill are all great leaders.
            There are business, religious,cultural and social service leaders and even in sports.

            When CV. Wigneswaran, was the Chief Minister, initially he had 30 members,

            some of them rebelled against him and he found governance very difficult. Some of his ministers alleged to be involved in corrupt practices. He was unable to inspire and lead his followers towards his goal whatever it may be.

            He was blaming all others for his failures and never took up responsibility for his actions.

            His performance as Member of Parliament is not better.

            Let me conclude with this great saying, “a counter gets the leader it deserves.”

    • 3
      11

      Saniyan follows Tamils. Now Tamils realize little by little this is all staged drama by Rajapakshas to create a PC election candidate for SLPP. As things are now Ananthi will become the next CM of NPC. The government is in panic.

  • 33
    4

    It is well known to everybody now that rule of law is a rare commodity in Sri Lanka today.

    What we are witnessing are instances to substantiate this reality.

    • 15
      4

      Not just today. Always.

      Still want to be part of SL? You are welcome!

      Tamil Elam is the only hope for Tamils with dignity. Until then Tamils are manipulated by Sinhala rulers at will.

    • 6
      23

      Thiru,
      Even if it is rare it is there but when your boss megalomaniac dictator Prabhakaran ruled North and East there was no rule of law at all. It was a one man show and summary executions were order of the day.

      “…now that rule of law is a rare commodity in Sri Lanka today”

      • 12
        3

        EE,

        Please allow Tamils to have Tamil Elam. You too gains. How about you living in a Sinhala Only Buddhist nation? Isn’t that wonderful? Give them their nation and take your nation.

      • 2
        1

        Looney Tune Eagle, so tell us whitevan killings, killings of journalists and Tamil MPs like Nadarajah Raviraj, Pararajasingham, and the killings and disappearances of thousands of civilians in by the armed forces in the north east etc, were all characteristics of ‘a’ legitimate democratic state! There is no denial that LTTE are equally guilty of killing civilians, but your attempts to white wash the crimes committed by the state for which it stands accused by the UNHRC, makes you one of its apologists!

  • 32
    5

    Don’t you know Sir, in this land like no other, it is the President who gives instructions to the Police to arrest targeted persons and take them into custody as well as to the Judges on how to give the verdict in those cases?

  • 10
    28

    It is fair to ask Douglas D to clarify.
    Why should any other who has not made a statement.
    If the purpose is to verify the truth of DD’s statement, one could request the President to confirm or deny, but he is under no obligation to respond.
    *
    However, we know that foreign poachers in Northern waters (and their pirate vessels) are set free after arrest and even after being produced in court.
    Has Mr CVW ever bothered about the legality of a foreign government meddling with our legal system?

    • 34
      3

      Do we have a legal system?

      • 7
        19

        A
        Then what is Mr CVW protesting about?

        • 21
          3

          Ask him?

          • 3
            8

            I was responding to him and you barged in.

            • 4
              0

              Poor respond.

              • 0
                2

                Please yourself

                • 2
                  0

                  Why are you that much busy with your Covid-Vacation?

      • 15
        1

        In theory yes.
        In realty no.

      • 16
        2

        It is the Sinhala Masters’ law. You cannot understand it. They don’t want you to understand it. The law is used to shove their chauvinism down the throats of Tamils and other minorities. Anything new?

        What was the first law Ceylon introduced after gaining independence? That’s it.

    • 2
      22

      It is very sad indeed. Foreign governments call police and Judges and give instructions.
      Is as per UNHRC resolution of hybrid judicial system

    • 15
      1

      SJ, come on seriously you want to ask this serial killer Douglas Devananda a very serious question? What knowledge does this repeat murderer has that he can impart some wisdom from it?

      • 11
        5

        Douglas Devananda started his criminal activity in Tamil Nadu. There are cases against him for abducting a small girl and shooting dead an old man, form which cases he jumped bail and surrendered to Premadasa. He must explain how he amassed wealth when he arrived in Sri Lanka in 1990 with only a kit bag of clothes wearing slippers. He is behind several murders in Sri Lanka including Thinamurasu editor Atputharaja and UNP MP Maheswaran. His ill gotten money is stacked in UK, which is being managed by a tavern renter.

        • 7
          6

          Prabakaran and Umamaheswaran too stared there with their Pondy Bazaar shoot out.
          They were all, even DD then, one happy family of foster children of Mother Indira.

      • 1
        2

        TftN
        DD made a statement. If clarification is sought it has firstly to be from him.
        How many do you expect to offer wisdom around here when you raise a question.
        You could count them on the prongs of a table fork.
        From each according to his ability.
        *
        What would you say about people once asking VP to clarify his utterances? As killer he has a record that more than matches DD’s.

  • 27
    3

    There is no doubt that courts, police and military are direct control of the God (Gota) of reborn Buddha of “Sinhale”. It looks like another drama to Cheat who? Buddhist Sinhala?, UNHRC?, Tamils?
    Most probably to Cheat “Sinhale”!

    • 3
      9

      Tamils!

      Wait till he contest the NPC election as SLPP CM candidate!!

  • 28
    1

    When we have Rajapakshas as rulers even their stooges has the power to control the security forces and the Judges & Magistrates. After May 2009, any illegal things can only happen with the clearance from the King clan. Muslim/ Hindu / Buddhists Fundamentalists+white vans+ Grease Yakkas+Paramilitary+Home Guards were created to achieve TOTAL control over the country by the King Clans. The opposition politicians too are at their mercy. This is what we get like in the Russian/Chinese / North Korean /Myanmar Countries.

  • 46
    4

    It is shameful that an innocent man is harassed by a thuggish police whose primary duty is the protection of the public and then a minister declares that the big boss will release him. As the writer correctly alleges, it is disgraceful that the courts are subservient to the political cabals in power, and acting with no independence in matters of law. It is the height of tribalism and the law of the jungle if the justice system is partial to political will. Instead of progressing as a mature society like Singapore or any other progressive state in the region, everything seems to be regressing in terms of social values, human rights, fairness, justice and equality.

    • 8
      26

      LP
      Are you sure that the Singaporean system is fair by opposition politicians?
      JB Jeyaratnam, Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party of Singapore, re-elected at the 1984 general election, lost his seat in Parliament in 1986 following a conviction for falsely accounting the party’s funds. His conviction was subsequently overturned by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which called the conviction a “grievous injustice”.

      • 6
        21

        lol True

        This is what fools who have never lived in Singapore think. I lived there for 7 years and it is a total authoritarian state run by the yew family.(duly elected of course )

        • 15
          0

          Singapore – Authoritarian? Yes.
          .
          But the leaders are honest, don’t take commissions.
          .
          They put their multicultural society first. Racism has no place.
          .
          Those Sinhalese who hankered for a “military government” were all racists. About half now are disillusioned. The other half will still support the Double-Paksa regime because they really think that the LTTE is still active. So, these periodic scare stories about uniforms and candles lit in remembrance of the dead (how they died is what Michele Bachelet wanted investigated) is a very important aspect of Rajapaksa policies.
          .
          The Lee Kwan Yew family doesn’t rouse such racial hatred, do they?
          .
          Certainly, some of us still prefer our laid-back style of doing things, and may not be sufficiently workaholic for Singapore.

          • 2
            7

            ‘They put their multicultural society first. Racism has no place.’

            SM this is not quite true. You have to experience the domination of Chinese over Malays and Indians (mostly Tamils) to see this. You have to see the contempt and ridicule suffered by foreign domestics to know what Singapore is really like. Having said that, its record on race relations is a thousand times better than Sri Lanka’s.

            • 0
              2

              Singapore is a brothel house masquerading as an industrialized nation.

              • 1
                0

                RSP
                Based on your claimed sexual prowess, I take your word on brothels.

            • 3
              0

              You may be right, Svenson. I’ve never been to Singapore. However, you do agree that their record on race relations is much better than ours.
              .
              So, basically, you and I agree. Your comment is a refinement on mine.

              Yet my Like, Dislike score is 1/4, while mine is 12/0. The guys who have Liked are non racist. What this proves is that even those on ” our” side prefer to Disapprove rather than Like a comment because it doesn’t accord with our prejudices.
              .
              As for racist Reginald Perera, he can only talk about brothels.

              • 2
                0

                Sorry, YOUR score is 1/4. Mine 12/0.
                .
                Until such time as we start facing up to uncomfortable truths we will be unable to solve any of our problems.

    • 13
      13

      Logic of Wingeshwarn in this article is impeccable.

      Soma

      • 2
        6

        S
        Are the thumbs up for CVW’s ‘logic’ and thumbs down for just you— or vice versa?

        • 4
          6

          SJ
          Thumbs down for the name ‘Soma’.
          They are blindly following Pied Piper of ColomboTelegraph Native Vedda.
          .
          I have been branded a ‘racist’ for melely pleading with the Tamils ( Tamil speaking people) to choose the option that allows them to live anywhere in this beautiful island in their pursuit for ‘self rule’ and make sure at least 90% of them are entitled for benefits of ‘self rule ‘.

          Soma

      • 1
        0

        Soma, aka Gamini Somaratne, I had my suspicions about your comment. After some hesitation, I liked it.
        .
        Will you now be honest enough to acknowledge to all readers that your identity is Gamini Somaratne?

        • 0
          0

          Sinhala_man
          .
          This dirty habit of identity theft and publising them on open media has a serious down side you have failed to give thought to.
          If it goes wrong some innocent man somewhere , this “Gamini Somaratna” in your case could get assaulted by someone, get sidelined by colleagues or get fired by his employer for writing comments on Colombo Telegraph under the pseudonym ‘Soma’.
          EVEN IF YOU ARE RIGHT another Gamini Somaratna could face the same fate.
          Learn the first principle:
          NEVER AFFIX WRONG IDENTITIES ON UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS.
          .
          Awaiting your acknowledgement,

          Soma

  • 26
    1

    Laughing stock of the world!

    • 1
      8

      Yes T Eelam is certainly that!

  • 28
    1

    After the 20th amendment courts and judges are made dumb and blind.what LUCKLESS DEVANADA said also can be taken in to account as CONTEMPT OF COURTS.What a funny situation as the law and order in srilanaka has become like a carnival or circus like situation.

  • 6
    9

    Wiggy what have you done for your native having pension suddenly Vibuthi Poddu same old cycle at least Devanada saved him now suddenly Hon Devananda why to portray him we normally says Douglas fooling the people

  • 29
    3

    It does not matter whether it is north , South , west or east Sri Lanka now has a full fledged kangaroo legal system run by politicians.
    Whether you like it or not Sri Lanka is a Police state where all arms of law is not governed by he rule of law but the will and fancies of politicians.

  • 14
    1

    Dearest Namal Aiya,

    When our father became the father of a nation, you took upon a role beyond our eldest brother. You became a second father to
    @YoshithaR
    and me; our protector and mentor. You are now ‘Loku Thaththi’ to my son.

    Happy Birthday
    @RajapaksaNamal
    ========================
    so the Rajapaksa family have unilaterally declared that Mahinda Rajapaksa in the new fahter of the nation
    The Rajapaksa family is the Family of the Nation
    ========
    any thing and every thing they say goes unchallenged.

  • 21
    1

    As long as Sarath Weerasekera remains the Minister in charge of Police, not only this but worst will happen. He is not sane!

  • 17
    2

    Sri Lanka is a law onto itself. Corrupt to the core, a bottom of the barrel of nations. We’ve had the Senanayakes and the Bandaranaiakes with a brief interlude of Supermoron J R Jeyawardana. Now we have the ultimate modaiyas in Rajapakshas. So much for the Sinhala Buddhist supremacy. Makes me want to puke.

  • 12
    2

    The Govt: by reacting to a Storm in a Tea-Cup has made Young Manivannan a National and possibly even an International figure.

    The President needs to read The Prince- Machiavelli.

    • 7
      2

      Plato

      “The Govt: by reacting to a Storm in a Tea-Cup has made Young Manivannan a National and possibly even an International figure.”

      You mean the Sinhala/Buddhist state is building Young Manivannan a National and an International figure by appearing to harass him. Good idea.
      Do you think Tamils will fall for it?

      • 3
        9

        Please allow decent and peace-loving TAMILS to live in Sri Lanka. Tamils like Alfred Doraiappa, Rajan Kadiragarmar, Anand Sangaree, etc., all peace-loving and decent Tamils. They hate separatism, terrorism, and violent societies. There are millions of Tamils who loved peaceful lives in Sri Lanka. Live and let live Tamils in Sinhalese Aryans country, Sri Lanka

        • 4
          0

          N. Perera
          Could SL be the worlds only tropical island ‘aryan’ nation with its dark skinned ‘aryans’ ?
          Is that why they call it ‘a land like no other’ ?

        • 3
          0

          May all decent and Peace Loving Tamils and Sinhalese live and be happy in Sri Lanka.
          .
          Racist N. Perera cannot be the arbiter.
          .
          All Sinhalese are predominantly of Dravidian stock. This country belongs equally to all its citizens.
          .
          Please respond N. Perera. I have more to say.

  • 6
    1

    Native.

    Would Manivannan fall for it? DD APPEARS TO HAVE AN AGENDA!

  • 3
    9

    LTTE could not assassinate Douglas even after 10 attempts. That is why the Eelamist/separatist crowd are on full donkey mode with their loud braying, including this Wigneswaran. Funny thing is, Wiggy had his entire education in Colombo, never spent a day in the Fake State. He is playing both sides to retain his cozy position.

    • 9
      2

      Lester

      Are you happy or sad that LTTE could not assassinate Douglas even after 10 attempts. ? Do you think LTTE should have assassinated Douggy?

      “Funny thing is, Wiggy had his entire education in Colombo, never spent a day in the Fake State.”

      Why is it funny?
      Bandaranayakam, His Children, Dinesh, Gota’s son, …………

  • 11
    1

    At the height of the LTTE days in Colombo when a public suspects some one as LTTE they shout “Kotya” the police and the army drop everything and run a mile.

    Now they are scared shit of Jaffna Municipal council traffic wardens

  • 6
    2

    The guy who was hired by Old Royals to bring down Susan Rice is going to prison on that issue. Took money from Lankawe and played double agency. Media reported from $5M to $150 M was given to this guy and other American private PRFs. It is hard to put any exact figure on Old Royals robberies.

    • 12
      0

      If this is what was paid to this guy you can imagine what the government would have forked out to Nasbey guy of UK. He is still crying for his supper from roof top but no one is listening .

      • 4
        0

        Burt

        Lord Naseby would say in a typical Englishman’s style.
        Its a Nice little earner thank you.

        • 3
          0

          Agree, Rajash.

  • 3
    2

    Deva is claiming Manivannan is just one of the thousands who were released by him. I don’t know if that is reported in Sinhalese-English media too and the Southern crowd is buying that. But the question is “Is that all he sent to prison from Internment Camps in 2009, working with PLOT agents?

  • 4
    1

    Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
    Re your response to Sivasegaram’s comments. SJ has, true to his traits, diverted the focus of the readers on a very serious issue raised by CVW. Hereafter, pl. learn to ignore this self-conceited smart ass. SJ has been a pain in the butt -treading on everybody’s toe. I have seen his comments in these columns often denigrating our late leader Mr.S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, with vicious ad hominem attacks. Chelva is not there to defend himself. Better, we ignore him.

    • 2
      3

      “… self-conceited smart ass.” Doesn’t look like that from a learned man.
      Spewing of denigrating comments hardly contributes to enlightenment; sadly the comments in CT’s pages are brimming with hatred.

    • 1
      1

      Karikalan S. Navaratnam

      “SJ has, true to his traits, diverted the focus of the readers on a very serious issue raised by CVW.”

      Being holier-than-thou, SJ expects others to “do what he says, don’t do what he does”?
      Please note he is a self righteous self hating Tamil.
      Hence he cannot be normal.

      We need fun.
      SJ is one.

    • 1
      0

      KSN
      Do not get unduly personal. An honest answer will adequately silence me.
      *
      SJV Chelvanayakam was elevated to a status from which he just could not climb down.
      The Gandhi image was the biggest liability for a man who lacked the courage to denounce the foul assassination of Alfred Duraiappa.
      Since then, he failed to censure his self declared successor for his racist remarks and endorsement of the killing of ‘traitors’. (MKG would have gone on hunger strike.)
      *
      My criticism is solely political. Respond if any comment is invalid.
      I hold him responsible for the blunders of the FP, not personally but as leader.
      *
      Had you the opportunity to read NR Rajavarothiam’s memoirs (Panagoda Days), a very frank exposé of some leading party colleagues. NRR trusted SJVC personally. But he could also see a party within the party operating right under SJVC’s nose.
      *
      I place SJVC (and Vanniyasingam more than him) far above any of his successors. But he was a political disaster, for which the FP has to take the blame.
      Any informed FP supporter can answer the charges, as I do not go into SJVC’s private life. (In fact, some had questioned him as to why a man calling for a Tamil federal state kept all his wealth in the South. That was when he was alive.)

  • 2
    3

    It’s fairly well known of the opinions of people like Eagle Eye, Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam, Nathan and Mallaiyuran, and they could be more considerate of occupying the bytes. Sinhala_Man may not be as he is claiming to be, and if so, Sri Lanka will is waiting for a healthy future.

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