There is enough proof that our politicians do not represent the people, the masses. They represent the people who support them and fund their elections.
Corruption is rampant in Sri Lanka since 1970s owing to the existing political system.
Corruption has outlived well beyond our expectations in our country. People elected the Yahapalana Government, with a mandate to eradicate corruption and establish good governance.
They too have gone back inevitably on their pledges. The Bond Commission unmistakably has revealed startling evidence of the involvement of key politicians.
The alleged bond scam seems to be the biggest fraud since independence.
It is time, therefore, we name corrupt politicians as thieves of State. They rob public money during day and night, take commissions, bribes and resort to various corrupt practices in order to earn billions and billions for their election campaigns and their kith and kin.
Most politicians including Parliamentarians, Provincial Councillors downwards to the local level Pradeshiya Sabha members invest millions and billions in their election campaigns.
After having been elected, they resort to various devious and corrupt ways to continually rob peoples’ money and had impoverished the whole country since Independence.
Certain politicians assisted by corrupt bureaucrats reap unjustified profits illegally, unethically, immorally and amass enormous amounts of wealth far beyond their requirements. Citizens country-wide are left with no option.
Our democracy, no doubt, is so beautiful in theory and in practice - A fallacy in reality! They often condemn the venality of their predecessors and after they are elected they too continue syphoning off “public money” mercilessly
They could only observe the elected representatives have made all State institutions a safe haven to make ill-gotten money. The masses helplessly grin and bear, while going through all the suffering painfully, looking at politicians squandering their wealth, their opportunities etc., not only for this generations but for generations to come.
Some politicinas who capture power make money, after election after election, causing immense losses to the State. They shatter the hopes and dreams of all innocent subjects mercilessly. People always wait patiently until the next election.
It appears the vicious cycle continues unabated and seems unstoppable. In 1977, at the Parliamentary Elections, many legal practitioners including some organisations, supported JRJ and the UNP, having obtained an undertaking that the progressive and futuristic law reforms introduced to overcome law’s delays by Felix Dias Bandaranaike, the then Minister of Justice, and the then Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Dr Nihal Jayawickrama, during the then SLFP Government will be repealed. JRJ Government thereafter, as was undertaken, took steps immediately having won the elections not only to repeal the relevant piece of progressive legislation but also to IMPOSE CIVIC DISABILITY, i.e., removal of CIVIC RIGHTS of Felix Dias.
JRJ’s intention was to kill two birds in one stone. JRJ took necessary steps to impose all those punishments and to eliminate a strong political enemy from politics. JRJ abolished the reforms which were people friendly to please a minuscule section.
The masses are sickened and are now left with no alternative but to accept endemic corruption as a menace which cannot be expunged by them ....
In fact, the reforms that were introduced were a piece of legislation to reorientate the judiciary in the country to overcome various problems for the benefit of the public!
The masses are “sickened” and are now left with no alternative but to accept endemic corruption as a menace which cannot be expunged by them because thieves are the elected representatives eternally in power in the present deformed democracies.
This is good enough proof that our politicians do not represent “the people”, the masses. They represent the people who support them and fund their elections.
We are therefore a “Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka” only on paper in the Constitution.
Our democracy, no doubt, is so beautiful in theory and in practice - A fallacy in reality! This also indicates politician do everything to protect them. However, they very often condemn the venality of their predecessors and after they are elected they too continue siphoning off “public money” mercilessly at will for various irregular purposes.
Owing to all these, there is a culture of impunity that has come to stay together with numerous other issues that had cropped up causing irreparable harm. We now need the rule of law established.
We also need all the relevant laws suitably strengthened and amended where necessary.
Furthermore, time has come for citizens to understand that corruption does not exist only in politics. It exists everywhere.
We need the relevant institutions strengthened and values and attitudes changed. We need leaders who are visionaries who could think beyond the next elections and for the benefit of the next generation, including the unborn. The corrupt politicos continue to pay lip service to hoodwink the gullible masses.
Furthermore, time has come for the citizens to understand that corruption did not exist only in politics. It exists everywhere. It has become endemic-because people too are so selfish and greedy now, like their political leaders. Politicians lead the way and the gullible masses follow them while hero worshipping the corrupt politicos who have caused irreparable damage to the country, the people, the systems and the institutions. Politicians of all colours and races, since independence have created wars, conflicts, destruction, executions, mayhem, rifts, chauvinism, lawlessness etc., etc.
Time has now come for the youth to understand the reality. It is encouraging those youth in Balapitya have come up to face the daunting challenges before them. We must salute their courage and determination to come as independent candidates to contest Balapitya Pradeshiya Sabha. Pope Francis in 2015, addressing a large group of youth, in Kenya had said I quote –
“Whenever we accept a bribe and put it in our pocket, we destroy our heart, our personality, our country. Please do not develop a taste for the sugar of corruption. If you do not want corruption in your life, in your country, start with yourself! If you do not start, neither will the person next to you. Corruption robs us of joy, of peace. A corrupt person does not live in peace”.
Immoral politicos and public servants should not be allowed to run away with public property and rob the country of its wealth, while misleading the public telling untruths and escape due to impunity.
It is time for right thinking people to come out vociferously against corruption. I have no doubt it is only the virtuous people that can lay the foundation to build a strong NATION consisting of people who are contended. We have experienced that depraved politicos have undoubtedly created endless woes and disasters to the country and people.
Immoral politicos and public servants should not be allowed to run away with public property, cheat the country of its wealth, while misleading the public telling untruths and escape due to impunity.
Don’t you think that ours is also a state where we have eventually developed to a “man eat man” society? I recall during our young days, the then Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere referred to Kenya and said that Kenya was an example for Man eat Man Society! All due to corruption. Isnt most of our politicos are doing the same?
