Srilanka, Jan. 12 -- Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala has reaffirmed the National People's Party (NPP) Government's commitment to ensuring the equal application of the law. Responding to allegations of preferential "VIP" treatment for certain prisoners in the past, the Deputy Minister said that the Government will not tolerate such practices going forward.

"As a Government, we do not care for anyone's status when implementing the law," Watagala said, adding that equality before the law is enshrined in Article 12 of the Constitution. "If the Constitution guarantees equality, it must be upheld in practice," he said.

Highlighting a shift from practices of former Governments, Watagala said that th...