Stripping Civic Rights Under Draconian Act?

The President has appointed a Special 3-member Presidential Commission to implement recommendations of PCoI on political victimization, under provisions of UNP’s Draconian piece of legislation called Special Presidential CoI Act No. 07 of 1978.

- KKS Perera

The above, most malicious piece of legislation that targeted Ms. Bandaranaike was passed in the parliament after receiving a 5/6 majority in 1977. The President, it is believed, has conferred the Commission with powers to recommend civil disability on those found ‘guilty’ of misuse or abuse power during previous yahapalana rule. The report of original Commission had recommended the release of many whose cases were being heard before Courts, and presumed to be ‘victims’ of acts of misuse of powers by them.

On 29th March 1978, President JR appointed a Commission consisting of two Supreme Court Judges and a member of the lower Judiciary to inquire and report on several matters that covered Ms. Sirimavo B’s Coalition of 1970-77.

The three-member committee was empowered by the Gazette issued on January 19, 2021 to look into the recommendations of the pervious Commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, which found that the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption, FCID, and the Special Investigations Unit of the Police had been established contravening the requirements of the Code of Criminal Procedure and was in violation of the Constitution. The 2nd Commission’s tasks included investigating on the extent to which those named were answerable for violation of the law, abuse of power, and advised whether their civil rights should be withdrawn as per the provisions of the Constitution [Article 81] and SpPCoI Act No. 7 of 1978. Appeared to be politically motivated?

The original PCoI had found that a number of Opposition politicians and a few outsiders, [names have not been announced but reportedly include a few Opposition politicians and some public officials] who held positions under previous government, had faced charges of abuse of power and similar offences.