Culprits at large, mafia still powerful to thwart action, good governance activist says
View(s):Good governance activists in Sri Lanka are taking umbrage with the government over broken promises and lack of action against corrupt elements. “President Maithri (Maithripala Sirisena) and Prime Minister Ranil (Wickremasinghe), won on the pledge of eradication of corruption, abuse of power and radical change in the Yahapalana government. The mafia (however) seems to be yet powerful enough to thwart all the good intentions and promises made by the Yahapalana government,” K.C. Vignarajah, a leading activist against corruption and mismanagement, in particular in Colombo’s stock market, said in a open letter to the two leaders.
Earlier in the week, another vocal activist Chandra Jayaratne, in another open letter, said he was exercising his right (as a Sri Lankan citizen) to information under the Constitution to be provided with details on recent bond issues. Opposition politicians have accused the Central Bank of lack of transparency in recent bond issues in the market while a probe on an earlier bond issue appears to have fizzled out. Meanwhile Mr. Vignarajah, in a letter titled “Please get back the dollars and not increase taxes on people”, said that the present time was a golden opportunity for the leaders and “relevant ministers assisted by an honest, efficient, knowledgeable oversight team to immediately address to expand an honest enterprise society.”
He said the shock of the Panama papers leak is yet to be digested, adding that there were many corrupt corporates, controlling interests and allied politicians who had sent the country’s enormous portion of wealth and income abroad as reconfirmed by the latest reports. “The colossal sums of monies were grabbed from the common man, via exchange – rate, interest rate manipulations, stock market pump and dump, reduction of public float, de-listing and various purported investments overseas siphoned off for the benefit of a corrupt few,” the letter said. Citing many media reports of tax hikes, Mr. Vignarajah said that there should be no more taxing of the poor and the genuine enterprise sector as their monies in various forms have been taken away by a few.
It is imperative, he noted, for these stolen monies to be brought back to correct the macroeconomic crisis situation, and for repayment of loans. He said the ideals of the ‘Common Front’ headed by late Rev Sobitha Thera, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, Minister Rajitha Senaratna and a host of civil society organizations appear to have been subverted. None of the big culprits has been apprehended and their ill-gotten wealth ceased and the victims compensated to enrich the country and enhance its image.” He said: “We don’t need to put them for long periods in jail (at people’s cost) if they return the wealth and income generation spirited away under various ruses.
Approvals were granted by officials in special cases for investments abroad with conditions of accountability and bringing back good rates of return. Have these been followed honestly? The estimated US$35 billion of Sri Lanka’s money taken abroad would have enriched the country’s economy enormously. Some people had to keep their legitimate earnings and profits abroad and as the PM stated in parliament, they must be encouraged to bring back undoubted talents and expertise, and invest their monies.”
The abundance of dollars siphoned away when brought back will finance a ‘glorious revival and a renaissance’, he added.