{"id":155180,"date":"2015-12-30T16:24:58","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T10:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=155180"},"modified":"2016-01-05T09:44:18","modified_gmt":"2016-01-05T04:14:18","slug":"judge-hirunika-premachandra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/judge-hirunika-premachandra\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge Hirunika Premachandra"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Nishthar Idroos<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Nishthar<\/a>

Nishthar Idroos<\/p><\/div>\n

Unleashing extra-judicial acts by representatives of the people is nothing new to Sri Lanka. It has flourished for decades courtesy of our \u201claw-abiding\u201d legislators. Whoever gave the tagline \u201ccountry like no other\u201d to Sri Lanka must be endlessly sugar fed, congratulated and rewarded for his or her deep understanding of the Sri Lankan nation, its polity and culture.<\/p>\n

More I see this signature more hilarity it induces in me. This in no way is an attempt to discount Sri Lanka\u2019s true and natural beauty. As a breadth taking salubrious destination blessed with impeccable weather, the island nation is a must visit to anyone with the means. Its people warm and hospitable as always. Its politicians a confirmed rarity on account of many reasons namely beliefs, personality, conditioning, priorities, educational qualifications, discipline or the lack of it. Most have acquired anecdotal fame.<\/p>\n

About Sri Lankas politicians you\u2019re warned of the danger or pleasure of courting with insanity. I was recently telling someone there\u2019re characters in the current Sri Lankan parliament and before characters if only carefully comprehended, contemplated and creatively expressed million dollar masterpieces would abound and I am not kidding.<\/p>\n

\"Hirunika\"<\/a>After nauseating performances by multitudes of the species, news surfaces of a comely lass heralding from suburban Colombo, a lawyer, elected to parliament just under a year, getting into that infamous, inevitable and irresistible act most of the species fall prey to. The much publicized banner of Yahapalanaya or good governance received another nasty blow.<\/p>\n

A man apparently had been forcibly taken away by \u201cJudge Hirunika<\/span><\/a>\u2019s\u201d staff members. Our purported protagonist had made a valiant effort to dispense instantaneous justice. The black Land Rover Defender belonging to the Member of Parliament had been used for the abduction. It seems black Defenders are now replacing white vans to continue the sordid legacy of abductions.<\/p>\n

The Member of Parliament had postulated great audacity defending her staff members\u2019. \u201cJudge Hirunika\u201d had repeatedly said she only wanted to prevent a family from breaking up. The victim,\u00a0Amila Priyanga Amarasinghe on the other hand had said that he was personally threatened by the\u00a0parliamentarian.<\/p>\n

The profession of a lawyer is a noble one and it\u2019s self-governing. Lawyers are expected to conduct themselves in ways which are highly ethical and above reproach. The Code of Conduct defines the principles and high standards which are applied to every lawyer in Sri Lanka, for that matter in any country. \u201cJudge Hirunika\u2019s\u201d conduct is reprehensible hence constitutes a gross betrayal.<\/p>\n

Members of Parliament have an even stronger code of conduct as they are representatives of the people hence directly responsible for their social and economic wellbeing.<\/p>\n

The flak the incident generated had a negative effect on the supposed white banner of Yahapalanaya. Tabloids and the online media was a hive of activity. Farcical caricatures got produced online on high-octane fuel, one replaced another. True to its character the online genre got predictably viral and unraveled the squalid episode. The event reduced it to a derisive travesty.<\/p>\n

For a moment I was thrown to the American\u00a0arbitration-based reality\u00a0court show\u00a0presided over by retired\u00a0Manhattan\u00a0family court\u00a0Judge Judith Sheindlin. \u201cJudge Judy\u201d which premiered in the 1990\u2019s earned great ratings. The show reportedly revitalized the court show genre in the US. Well Judith Sheindlin was a true judge and Hirunika wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Since when did mediation of parliamentarians were sought to diffuse domestic discord? It seems it\u2019s a challenge to obliterate the egregious legacy of BBS and the culture of impunity remarkably unveiled by \u201ceminent\u201d personalities like the right honorable Mervin De Silva PhD. They won\u2019t fade away easily.<\/p>\n

Only a couple years ago we saw the militant saffron brigade telling shop owners what and whom to sell. Not forgetting the theatrics of the pint sized \u201cChandiya\u201d who famously tied government servants to trees and spewed superlative vitriol to the sadistic pleasure of onlookers. These incidents still palpably vivid to most Sri Lankans is still very much integral to Sri Lankan politics. Let\u2019s also welcome \u201cJudge Hirunika Premachandra\u201d to the exclusive club.<\/p>\n

During those days of melodrama the law enforcing apparatus of the country was virtually emasculated. There was calculated subversion carried out by hoodlums of the ruling party of that time. These elements obviously had support and patronage from higher echelons of power.<\/p>\n

The ugly incident has no doubt put \u201cJudge Hirunika\u201d on a spot. The ruling parties have firmly disowned her due to here direct involvement. The remarks of the JVP is telling. Its politburo member and Member of Parliament Vijitha Herath charged that the Police were under heavy pressure not to deal with Ms. Premachandra. He further said \u201cPrevious government was toppled due to the \u2018white van\u2019 culture but now we have a \u2018black defender\u2019 culture,\u201d He claimed she was accountable since her vehicle had been used by her personal staff.<\/p>\n

Ms. Hirunika Premachandra must demonstrate greater wisdom and restraint if she is to have a long and successful political journey. This is a nobrainer. Recklessness and combativeness may obviously pose impediments. Most importantly she should never, ever take the law on to her own hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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