The recent Supreme Court judgment on the Waters Edge deal marked crucial people’s victory in fight against corrupt politico-business mafia in Sri Lanka. It all started in 2007 when then COPE committee under the chairmanship of Wijedasa Rajapakse prepared a report on 26 government institutions which alleges mismanagement of over a staggering Rs.150 BILLION. While most of previous reports mentioned there had been some corruption and some mismanagement, the 2007 statement specifically identified the mismanagement and culprits. The COPE was the ideal place where all the politicians and bureaucracy would have questioned and punished. However, unfortunately most of the main culprits had already crossed over from UNP to the government and it only fired back on political career of Mr. Wijedasa Rajapakse[2]. Until now Wijedasa Rajapakse is made to play very passive role in politics where culprits are standing both in the government and opposition.
The mere buzz of no confidence motion
The main opposition played their usual opportunistic role to try and corner selected individuals including Milinda Moragoda who had already crossed over to the government. However after all the buzz in no confidence motion against Moragoda, the corrupt politicians later came to consensus and the motion was put under the carpet and no one (including those media gurus that make noise only on according to the agenda of political parties) are no longer interest on that subject.[3]
People’s action in the absence of politician’s initiative
It is in this backdrop that the people in this country had to turn to the judiciary system to seek justice against these culprits who hold power or protected by political helm. The first victory came with the judgment against P.B Jayasundara and John Keels Holding (JKH) in the case dates back to 2002 following a privatization deal that led to the sale of Lanka Marine Service (Pvt) Limited (LMS) by state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings (JKH). With that historical judgment, both the state beurocracy and private sector company that involved in major corrupt deal was penalized, but the political leadership account for the deal was still escaped.[1]
One step forward
The recent Waters Edge judgment has gone one step further and finally penalized not only the corrupt privet sector, but also the political leadership behind it. More importantly the judgment is against the helm of then political monarchy, none other than Chandrika Kumaranathunga. CBK was paraded into Sri Lankan politics by so called civil right activists (later exposed and branded as INGO agents) as the mark of purity (Sudu Neluma) against corrupt political system. But it took only few months for the people of this country (who are not colour blind) to find the true feather of CBK and international and local agents behind her.
CBK came from London and played her role (assigned by INGO agents and corrupt business mafia) and now back in London enjoying her retirement. While CBK has not faced full justice for economical and political turmoil she has created in this country, the recent judgment is certainly some sort of consolation to patriotic citizens who really expect better future and prosperity for this country. [5]
Another crucial judgment pending
The day following the Waters Edge judgment saw the crash of Distilleries shares from 70.00 to 52.50. The uncertainty surround Distilleries is due to the pending judgment of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) of which Distilleries is the holding company and business tycoon Harry Jayawardana hold the major stake.
In the last two judgments, a government servant and a politician have been personally punished and corrupt money being transfered back to the government. We sincerely hope that the third landmark judgement will punish not only political and state related parties but those corrupt individuals in the private sector that is making illegal money out of government assets (The people’s assets) are also personally exposed and punished to the maximum.
Unite with lesser evils to defeat the big devil
While the present government has shown firm commitment in the fight against terrorism, so far it has not shown same intense for the fight against corruption in general. The government has to rely on the support of all the fractions to maintain the majority in parliament especially after JVP refused to take part with the government, instead nab in the back and now allied with UNP politics. On the other hand Mahinda Rajapaksa government seems to be in the view that they should unite all the fractions (even lesser evils) to fight against the LTTE terrorists that was once considered to be the deadliest terrorist organization in the world.
The measures against corruption in military: the forerunner in success in fight against terrorism
It was well known that ‘War’ has been made living for corrupt politicians and businessmen in this country. The very first act of Rajapaksa government in fight against terrorism was to eliminate corruption in military procurements by forming a centralized government institution that solely handle buying of arms and ammunition directly from foreign governments in most of the cases thereby eliminating commissions in deals. That move built up confidence in soldiers and it made huge difference in turning fight against terrorism in to winning path.
What next?
Once the fight against terrorism is won in few months time, the government’s second mission would be to expedite the development. Just like eliminating corruption in defense sector paved the way to fast track in winning the fight against terrorism, the full fledge mini war against corruption in Sri Lankan politico-business mafia will be the key to fast track into economic development of country.
Related articles:
1. P.B. Jayasundara Saga and Triangle of Corruption: politicians, bureaucrat and businessmen (August 02, 2008)
2. Before the judge is hanged (September 21, 2007)
3. No-confidence motion against Milinda Moragoda - Insight story (October 27, 2007)
4. Back to the mercy of her own masters (October 16, 2007)
5. The pageant queen of post independence era (August 11, 2007)
6. Chick and egg story of corruption in Sri Lanka (October 27, 2007)
2 comments:
Rarely we talk about corruption in businessman as part of corruption in politicians. Behind every corrupt politician, there is bunch of corrupt businessmen !!!
We should bring corrupt individuals in privet sector and put in jail too, if we really want to clean corruption in politics and state !!!
Yes sir, immaterial of the background, ethnicity, status etc. if someone steals public money he or she should be punished, there is no second question of it. It is pretty handy that our judiciary went an extra mile to punish the ex Executive President of this country Mrs. CBK. I do not know whether you have a clue about what I am going to say next. But the current development leaves sufficient room to legitimately impose a penalty over any politico engaged in foul play. Even it applies to present President Mr. Rajapakse. I have no direct proofs to prove that he is stealing public funds at present. In general this kind of stuff will be made public after he quits from the position. I presume guy like Victor Ivan will take care of that at least for his own economic survival. On the other hand if someone tries to reveal these while Mr. Rajapakse is in power he or she might become a victim of white van strategy. However, everyone can see how Rajapakse family is wasting public funds mostly for their personal benefit. Under the present regime most of the key positions of the government institutions were given to his henchmen. Most of them are not qualified to hold these positions. In that way also he is wasting public funds. To me it is equivalent to stealing public funds, because it is in the form of bribes to his relatives, friends etc. You have got to criticize these dirty acts of MR as well. The duty of an unbiased Media Person is to provide guidance to the state leadership, public etc. and not to wash their dirty linen for the sake of personal benefits. You also made an unsuccessful attempt to white wash the government mechanism of purchasing ammunition. I am not a competent guy to comment on that but Mr. Iqubal Athas should be in a better position to provide a report over transparency and clarity of these transactions. In accordance with my understanding the misconception that the Rajapakse Regime forcibly imposed over Sri Lankan society that the war is the only solution to the ethnic crisis of the island nation is in jeopardy right now with the recent international developments. Notwithstanding he’s got to come up with a comprehensive political solution as early as possible to settle the long lasting ethnic unrest in the island. If that is the case what is the point of this meaningless war which is driven solely to inflate the political image of Rajapakses at the cost of the lives of our countrymen and ruining the economy of the island nation. It is none other than another corrupted project of Rajapakse Brothers to fool stupid Sri Lankan community.
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