The extensive coverage you have been fearlessly giving to the horrendous transactions concerning public property, recently laid bare by the Supreme Court is heartening to all right thinking people in this country. The strange silence of those who consistently become heard and are vocal on exposures of much less importance impacting on business integrity is inexplicable.

The Colombo based business community and those who have grouped themselves to represent the interests of this sector viz. Chambers, Trade Associations etc. are the very same people who project themselves as the proponents and custodians of the principles of good governance and corporate ethics. They have been in recent weeks closeted in a code of silence on the issues and have shrouded their views in a veil of secrecy and mystery. Not even a brief statement has been forthcoming from a sector who would normally be very critical of violations of corporate governance and breaches in codes of ethics by government and in other quarters.

Public seminars and events are regularly being held to recognize compliance and to extol the virtues of social responsibility. Obligations to society are regularly proclaimed and highlighted by the same people who have been hushed to stillness and lulled into inaction even though the non-compliance with codes could not be more glaring than in this instance. No expertise is required to understand ‘The Order’ which is final, has been clearly spelt out and has been made public.

“ We live in dangerous times,” said Martin Luther King jnr.”not so much because there is so much evil around us, but because there are so many who choose to remain silent inspite of it”. Unfortunately we have people at the helm purporting to represent the business community who do not, or choose not to, realize that they stand naked before the public. Fortuitously, we still have men who can penetrate the shrouded veil and interpret that silence, revealing that personalities count more than principles in the same quarters that profess to admire the latter. The pattern of conduct evolving appears to be “show me the man and I will give you the rule”

Had a lesser known business been at the centre of public discussion consequent on a less supreme judgment, would not the rule book be thrown at it, inquiries held and judgment passed for public “hanging”?

We are not living in the colonial past where there was a different code where such issues were resolved expeditiously upholding the good name of the institutions which served that regime and the time and circumstances were different. There is a need to move from club type groupings and old boy networks, where in-breeding is often the practice and pedigree the norm for leadership succession. We need to replace the spokesmen for the business community with the men we need. I cannot do better than to conclude the sentiments I have expressed here than by quoting from a poem by J.G. Holland, which has long inspired and sustained me through my career as an executive in the very same sector I refer to in this article. I quote-

THE MEN WE NEED
“God give us men, the time demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and willing hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the lusts of office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will:
Men who have honour;
Men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
Condemn his treacherous flatteries without winking;
Tall men, sun crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty and in private thinking!
For while the rabble with their thumb worn creeds,
Their large possessions and their title deeds
Mingle in selfish strife; lo Freedom weeps!
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps”

It is in the long term business interests and future business prospects of this country that we establish a clean business community and an environment where commercial transactions take place transparently in conformity with strict ethical practices which go beyond mere compliance with the law. This is in contrast to gross violations which we are experiencing at present and have been courageously and cleverly -- I would add --, been successfully challenged and exposed in this instance. I would urge all right thinking people especially in the business community to break your silence and speak out. In the alternative your silence will speak louder than your words.

Mohan Mendis
Pannipitiya