Editorial - Going jumbo with a tiny purse

2 September 2012 06:30 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Compared to the rest of the countries in the world, the geographical entity of Sri Lanka may be called tiny. Yet, when it comes to rearing a bandwagon of spendthrifts in its higher echelons, there is nothing ‘tiny’ about the extravagance and wastage of public money the people are compelled to witness every day.

The matter resurfaced when many quizzical eyebrows were raised at the number of members in Sri Lanka’s Olympic team in London, which consisted of only eight athletes and 15 officials. Explaining his stance, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage lashed out at the National Olympics Committee for sending seven officials without his approval. He further said the list produced for his approval had only sixteen names.

On the one hand, if the extra number of officials were included without approval, such arbitrary action clearly poses a threat to the Ministry’s authority as the ultimate regulative body of sports in the country. On the other, the Minister, if he is as concerned as he sounds, cannot afford to exercise complacency in the face such impunity. Calling for a report that will later be tucked away in a corner is not the standard way of taking redemptive measures.

After all, the people’s curiosity to know what exactly 15 officials were doing in London with only eight participants should be duly satisfied.
However, Sri Lanka’s tale in London is no different to any other foreign trip taken by top government officials and members. Be it the Cricket World Cup, the Olympics or the crucial United Nations Human Rights Commission sessions, it is a farce with a common storyline. The number of chaperones is triple the number of participants, the former is entitled to royal treatment, when ideally it should be the privilege of the latter and in the end they come home without the cup. The only difference is that the latter are playing for the people while the former are playing with the people’s money.

Time and again, the hard-earned money drawn out of public pockets, have been poured down the drain to satisfy the personal whims and fancies of the powers that be. Such impunities should be condemned, irrespective of the colour-coded labels of the perpetrators. State security should not be the reward for such individuals who seem to be on the winning side no matter whether the country emerges victorious or otherwise.

It is the age-old practice of our nominal democracy to prioritize the self-interest of the rulers over the public interest of the community. People have been forced to domesticate the white elephants, bred and fed by them. The need of the hour is a constitutional provision such as the Right to Information Bill that will put an end to the mother of all impunities.
A better-informed nation will know exactly how to starve the white elephants to death with their vote.

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Editorial - Going jumbo with a tiny purse

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