Alarming concerns on accountability

Recent events compel us, as Sri Lankans, to confront an uncomfortable truth: we have repeatedly failed to act, even when forewarned.

The COVID-19 pandemic arrived with ample global warning, yet we were unprepared. The Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 unfolded despite precise intelligence—dates, locations, and methods clearly communicated in advance. The Ditwah floods and recurring natural disasters have continued to wreak havoc, though meteorological warnings were issued well ahead of time. Now, we are confronted with the staggering USD 2.5 million Treasury blunder, alongside a Rs. 13 million fraud within a commercial bank.

These are not isolated incidents. They reveal a disturbing pattern: warnings are ignored, systems are weak, accountability is absent, and corrective action comes only after the damage is done.

What is even more alarming is the response. The Central Bank’s belated circular on account reconciliation, issued after these lapses came to light, is a classic case of shutting the stable door after the horses have bolted. Such reactive governance inspires little confidence.

The question we must now ask is simple:

Are we prepared to learn and reform, or will we continue down this path of negligence until the next preventable disaster strikes?

If we fail to act decisively, we risk not only financial loss and institutional decay, but also our credibility as a nation. The world will not judge us by our intentions, but by our repeated inability to heed warnings and enforce accountability.

Upali Weerasinghe