July 21, Colombo: The Marxist party of Sri Lanka, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) says the failure on the part of the authorities to take action against senior members of the government who flout the law has resulted in the increase in the country's crime rate.

JVP politburo member K.D. Lalkantha said the failure to take action against senior government ministers officials when they flout the law has encouraged junior members in the government to engage in nefarious activities.

Addressing a gathering in Kegalle, he observed that the failure to enforce the law on a group of people has created the impression among junior members of the government that they too could engage in wrong doings without having to face any consequences.

"When government ministers act against the law there's no action taken against them. It creates an impression among junior members that they too would have the same immunity from the law," Lalkantha explained.

He said that this was the reason for the large number of governing party members in local government being apprehended for various offenses, especially sexual offences.