Half the Govt. corrupt: JVP

By Chandani Kirinde

More than half the members of the Government are allegedly linked to bribery and corruption but due to the lax attitude in taking action against them, the practice is continuing unabated and unrestrained, senior JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake charged.

The JVP member who on Thursday revealed an attempt to lease the Government-owned business undertaking BCC in a fraudulent manner said appeals to President Manhinda Rajapaksa and senior ministers to act against those involved in these irregularities have been ignored.

“There is large scale fraud and corruption allegedly involving many ministers but absolutely nothing has been done to stop them. They consider some of these politicians too valuable to get rid of because of the large number of preferential votes they get at elections,” Mr. Dissanayake told The Sunday Times.

He referred to the USA visa fraud case allegedly involving Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga as well as a million rupee urea deal fraud case which were exposed in the media as well as in Parliament but said action against the alleged culprits have so far not been taken.

“There is no political will to stop this kind of happening and it is the poor taxpayers’ money that is being cheated,” he lamented.
He said the JVP was talking to its lawyers regarding taking legal action in the BCC case and would also request a Parliament debate on the issue. “The laws dealing with bribery and corruption are also inadequate and stronger laws are required,” he said.
Mr.Dissanayake also referred to the latest plan to set up an airline named ‘Mihin Air’ and said how the funds are being acquired for this project is suspect and more public scrutiny is needed.

“We need to make people aware that it is corruption that is the biggest hindrance to development in this country. It must be put on a people’s agenda and there must be more public discussion on the issue,” he added.