Colombo and Galle residents think differently on government performance
Respondents in Colombo and Galle, while in agreement that the FCID is not performing the role it set out to do, has also displayed wide disparities in a RCB poll, jointly held with the BT. The poll was to ascertain the effectiveness of the government’s main financial crimes unit set up mainly to rope in members of the former regime including powerful public servants. (See Page 1 for results and details of poll) For example, to the question as to whether the FCID was performing an exemplary role, 60+ per cent of the respondents in Colombo and Galle said ‘no’. However only 8 per cent of Galle residents agreed and 25 per cent were ‘unable to comment’ while 24 per cent ‘agreed’ and 14 per cent were ‘unable’ to comment in Colombo.
The same response is seen in other questions too with different opinions by Colombo and Galle residents which implies that more people in Galle are dissatisfied with the system of governance than in Colombo. Two strong responses in the two polls were the call for a separate tribunal (not connected to the police) to handle financial crimes but that the rules need to be applied fair and equally; and a change was recommended to the Penal Code to make fraud a non-bailable offence for both parliamentarians and public servants.
Below are additional comments from respondents and their perceptions of the FCID:
RCB poll:
- FCID is protecting the rogues saying that it is arresting the culprits. It promotes another set of rogues by its actions. It appears that the hoax is carried out to negotiate with the culprits and facilitate settlements with the Government.
- FCID is the sole authority answerable to financial crimes in Sri Lanka. If dissolved it will be a blessing to financial criminals. The people will lose.
- FCID is only an election promise. There will not be any benefit. This country will never get back what has been stolen.
- FCID has diluted the image of the Prison’s Department.
- Those who have robbed have done so without leaving any proof. FCID is going behind minor offences and when they cannot find substantial evidence suspects are released.
- Politicians have destroyed the identity of the country.
- It is a waste of public resources. It is biased and partial, targeting a group of people. It is an arm of the Government to control the opposition. It promotes ‘jokes’ to the public and helps the media to survive.
- FCID must consist of independent persons.
- FCID must be dissolved and an Independent Commission established.
- Rule of law is diluted. This is the only institution in the world that informs culprits before arresting them.
- The rule of law, independence of justice and equality is questionable.
- Why aren’t the coal power rogues being arrested?
- FCID can be interpreted as a pet dog of the President and the Prime Minister.
- Abolish the FCID and refrain playing with the country’s law.
- It is a political institution which commence investigations after telephone calls from minsters.
From the BT poll:
- Probes are all fixed and pre-arranged.
- FCID is good but should not be limited to the opposition.
- With available resources, the FCID is doing fine.
- They should be neutral and more focused to recover the money, not to politically avenge the culprits.
- FCID should be expanded and given more powers, similar to a military tribunal, even to decide on the punishment according to their thinking, and even to remand offenders at once. Everything is moving too slow. What people are expecting is an end to this farce.
- It’s a political gimmick to divert the attention of the masses from the burning cost of living issues.
- Prison should not be perceived like paying wards in the General Hospital.
- Normal laws applicable to the common man should prevail. The current habit of falling ill to avoid proper incarceration makes a joke of the whole process.