PRESIDENT’S OUTBURST : IS IT THE END OF “YAHAPALANAYA”

Indeed, as your Editorial of 18.10.16 rightly says, the people deserve a clear cut explanation from the President with regard to his remarks concerning the CID, FCID, Bribery and other Independent Commissions.

The establishment of Independent commissions and a vigorous anti-corruption drive including strict actions against the corrupt elements of the previous government were in fact election pledges of the government where the President himself played a pivotal role.  Having now established the independent commissions, it is rather strange that the President himself is expressing doubts about the independent functioning of these commissions.

The matters have now come to a stage where the Director General of the Bribery Commission, who had done an excellent job of going after the culprits of the previous administration, has in frustration submitted her resignation and it is speculated that the other 3 members of the Commission too would follow suit.  This is exactly what the corrupt Joint Opposition were campaigning and praying for with even going to the extent of coconut-dashing.  Sadly, it looks like the President has himself given into these demands, having been on public record that no one is above the law and strict action should be taken against those corrupt elements.

The President’s outburst has in fact sent shock-waves across the entire anti-corruption mechanism with information coming in of some high ranking officials of the sector contemplating stepping down thus rendering the whole exercise of “catching the thieves” coming to a nought.  This indeed is a golden opportunity for the likes of Ali Baba and forty thieves to make a come- back and tell the people “we told you so”.

The entire scenario is summed up in a cartoon appearing in DM of 18.10.16 where Wimal Weerawansa is shown welcoming the President with a red “saatakaya” .

One sincerely hopes that the President, for whatever political reasons, does not turn the tide against the popular mandate given to him and the government to investigate and punish  the corrupt elements of the previous government as pledged by him. 

Anything lesser than that would sadly be the stepping stone for an end to the much talked-about “Yahapaalanaya”.