Editorial - Blank cheques for high-level crooks

9 August 2012 06:30 pm - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Like a malignant cancer, unchecked and unprecedented corruption is killing the country. For instance, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, which plays a crucial role in the national economy, burns with corruption.

Again last week hundreds of trains, buses, cranes and private vehicles were crippled by engine problems apparently due to sub-standard diesel supplied to them. Thousands of people were inconvenienced, and the damage caused to the vehicles was estimated at millions.

The Petroleum Ministry admitted the sub-standard diesel had been bought from a black-listed supplier and that a committee had been appointed to probe how this happened. Some months ago a large stock of sub-standard petrol was bought from this same black-listed supplier and millions of rupees was paid to owners whose vehicles were damaged. In that instance also a probe committee was appointed. But such committees had become a waste of time, money and a public joke. Accountability, a key factor in democracy because ministers and top officials are expected to be just stewards of public funds, has been taken out of the account books with no checks on the illegal cheques they get for fraudulent deals with dubious companies.

Another instance is the hedging scandal for fuel purchases. Our people might have to pay as much as US$175 million for this deal which was signed secretly with a private bank. No one is being held accountable, and the blame game will probably go on while the people of Sri Lanka will finally have to pay the billions of rupees. If these officials or politicians are at least named, shamed and sacked, it will be a deterrent to others, but Sri Lanka has apparently fallen from such a moral high road.

While corruption and blatant abuse of public funds go on, the official inflation rate has soared to a staggering 9.8% -- the highest in more than ten years. The unofficial rate may be much higher. Officials say the official inflation rate rocketed from 2.7 in February this year to 9.8 in July, mainly due to the soaring cost of living and the bankruptcy of the village economy, especially the vital field of agriculture, due to the unprecedented drought and mismanagement by officials. Millions of farmers are known to be bankrupt with no water even to wash the mud off their backs, giving us golden memories with silver tears of a time when the well-known writer Robert Knox said the farmer, when the mud was washed off his back, was fit to be the king of the country. That king is now a beggar in a mud hole, while moral beggars are making hundreds of millions along with personal power, prestige and privileges. What a shame, what a sham for a country that is boasting of becoming the model or miracle of Asia.

Order Gifts to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Vegetables, Grocery, Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,News, Courier/Delivery, Food Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka.

Sell your vehicle & house fast with hitad.lk only cost is Rs.400, Advertise in Hitad.lk for free to sell your mobile phone. Want to sell your Pet, Advertise for Free in hitad.lk Search for Houses in Sri Lanka and find the best place through Hitad.lk find your best tuition place. Find the best partner for you, visit hitad.lk Find anything at any time hitad.lk.

Comments - 4

Ruwan Friday, 10 August 2012 03:33 PM

It is high time to take these corruption, wastage and blunder to the villager and to educate and rally them behind for mass protests and agitation until their rights and demands are met and until corrupt system of governing changed.

Supun Perera Friday, 10 August 2012 03:25 PM

In a crazy, corrupt, lawless Banana Republic this is normal business. If not only, one should worry. God save former democratic Sri Lanka.

senavi Friday, 10 August 2012 03:22 AM

sacrifices of more than 25 thousand war heroes are going to be in vain?

Calistus Jayatilleke Friday, 10 August 2012 06:00 AM

Brilliant piece of an editorial. But the saddest part is that our people are thoroughly brain -washed with constant bombardment of disinformation and propaganda over the government controlled news media and very few really care to read well-written material such as this to open their eyes to the rampant corruption all around them.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Editorial - Blank cheques for high-level crooks

Comments - 4

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

Japan’s Altruism: Bombed us on Easter ‘42; we ‘Recompensed’ in ‘51

When they can’t govern, they must Go Home

Kamal Haasan returns to cinema with blockbuster ‘Vikram’

Lesson for Lanka from Ecuador’s crises, its relations with US and China

Some mill owners sell imported rice under local brands - Dudley Sirisena

Spotlight on losses associated with so called development projects

Fresh Approaches in Safeguarding the Environment

Most Viewed in News

'Stop the vehicles protest' begins at 10 am

Army launches probe after Lt. Col. assaulting civilian at fuel shed goes viral

Airlines cut seat capacity by 53% to Sri Lanka over fund repatriation issues and jet fuel shortage

Japan will not help SL now

CB to liquidate five failed finance companies

MR's office denies reports of hospitalization

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Going through tough times

SC calls for fuel procurement and distribution plan

In accident involving Jackson Anthony Search for wild elephant

A/L Exam to be delayed by one month: Minister

MIRROR CRICKET

England take early T20I series lead over Sri Lanka

New Zealand clinch World Test title

LPL 2nd edition from July 30-August 22-SLC

Sanath Jayasuriya signs as coach at Melbourne cricket club Mulgrave

Trinity - Royal Dialog League encounter on Friday the 8th

Sri Lanka add Theekshana, Wellalage and Manasinghe to Test squad, Mathews available for selection

Player draft for third season of LPL today

Cricket World Welcomes Baz-Ball