President Reveals a Legal Officer Who Hid Files: When Will Legal Action Be Taken Against Her?

A national newspaper has published a news item titled "A Legal Officer Hid Files Until a Proper Administration Came, and Now She Is Getting Down to Work; President Reveals in Homagama."

According to the report, the President disclosed that a legal officer had informed him she had illegally concealed several case files in her custody until a "proper administration" was in place to conduct investigations. However, no citizen has the right to act based on their own interpretation or assumption of what constitutes a "properly conducted investigation." More importantly, it is a serious offense for a legal officer—someone with a thorough understanding of the law—to deliberately hide case files based on personal judgment. Even a small child would recognize this as wrongdoing.

The law does not change based on misleading or defamatory comments made on social media by individuals who lack legal knowledge and blindly trust verdicts issued by the police, the government, or political party members. The law remains the same, regardless of opinions. Moreover, the government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake has no separate legal framework of its own.

It is crucial to question what legal authority an officer from the Attorney General's Department or any other state institution has to withhold case files in such a manner. Law-abiding citizens and those with even basic legal knowledge believe that immediate legal action should be taken against her. Political ideology has no relevance in this matter.

The President has also made a serious mistake. If he is aware of such misconduct, he should have directed the head of the relevant institution to take legal action. Merely publicly revealing this issue as if it were an act of bravery or something praiseworthy is neither legally nor morally justifiable. Regardless of whether this truth is uncomfortable for those who idolize political figures, it remains the reality.

Before assuming office, Anura Kumara Dissanayake often publicized similar incidents to build a heroic image for himself. The public sentiment he gained from such revelations contributed to his electoral success. However, he has never made an effort to educate the public on the true distinction between right and wrong in legal matters.

This truth cannot be concealed by pointing fingers at a weakened opposition, including Sajith, Ranil, and Mahinda, who have already suffered significant political setbacks. The focus is no longer on the opposition. There are now citizens among us with the courage to criticize the government they elected when necessary—individuals who prioritize truth over party loyalty. Those who attempt to justify this incident only expose their ignorance.