{"id":228904,"date":"2022-08-31T17:37:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T12:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=228904"},"modified":"2022-09-10T11:54:52","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T06:24:52","slug":"failed-economy-bribery-corruption-to-maintain-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/failed-economy-bribery-corruption-to-maintain-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Failed Economy: Bribery & Corruption To Maintain Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sunil J. Wimalawansa<\/a> –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Prof Sunil J. Wimalawansa<\/p><\/div>\n

Part 27: <\/b>Sri Lanka\u2014Changing Pillows to Cure Headaches<\/a>:\u00a0<\/b>Failed Economy\u2014<\/b>Bribery and Corruption <\/b>to Maintain Power<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Bribery and corruption thrive at every government institution in Sri Lanka.\u00a0 <\/span>Regrettably, these corruption schemes continue to be fueled and contributed by bribers in the private and public sectors.\u00a0 <\/span>They have opted to be silent (i.e., inaction until the Aragalaya started in April 2022) or partner in the crime by giving bribes.\u00a0 <\/span>Such corrupted attitude(s) not only among politicians and administrators but also among the public must stop with the necessary system change. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Time to stop bribery and corruption<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Since the parliamentarians refuse to change the corrupt system they thrive on: it is time for the public to take charge of it and eliminate bribery and corruption from Sri Lanka.\u00a0 <\/span>Despite pessimistic assertions by many taking heads\u2014pundits (who may also contribute to the problem), eliminating corruption is undoubtedly doable within a year or two if the public takes a firm stand against it for the betterment of Sri Lanka.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the financial insolvency of the country, corruption and looting of the treasury by some politicians in conjunction with senior administrators in the government and corporations continues unabated.\u00a0 <\/span>Because of the escalated corruption, Sri Lanka is listed near the top among the most corrupt countries, besting some of the traditionally corrupt African countries.\u00a0 <\/span>Politicians have brought disgrace to our nation.\u00a0<\/span>Nevertheless, Sri Lankan politicians do not seem to care.\u00a0<\/span>They hardly discussed such in the parliament and failed to devise strategies and laws to prevent such. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the bankruptcy, embezzlement and corruption continue, relentless pilferage of national resources, as the public witnessed multiple food importation scandals, cooking gas-, fertiliser-, fuel and coal- scams, etc.\u00a0<\/span>Citizens witnessed these outrageous robberies multiple times in recent months.\u00a0<\/span>The question is, which major transaction or tender did not involve fraud?\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps none. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Incredibly, these perpetrators have the guts to continue these embezzlement\u2014daylight robberies that no one seems to be able to stop yet.\u00a0 <\/span>No wonder Sri Lanka became one of the most corrupt countries in the world in a short period.\u00a0 <\/span>However, this trend can be and must be changed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Politicians refusing to change corrupt practices<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Since corrupt practices are highly profitable, politicians and administrators vigorously resist changes.\u00a0<\/span>They are comfortable with the \u201cstatus quo\u201d and eager to continue the same awful, rotten system\u2014allowing them to continue bribery and other corrupt practices.\u00a0 <\/span>As a prerequisite, via constitutional amendments, they maintain the lack of independence of the judiciary.\u00a0<\/span>Consequently, the vicious cycle continues.\u00a0<\/span>The fundamental reason why the president and the ruthless clan use overwhelming force to suppress Aragalaya and arrest and torture youth.\u00a0<\/span>They fearmonger the rest of the population to maintain the power at any cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the late 1980s, under the direct charge of the prime minister (now the president), brutal suppression and killing of thousands of youths happened at Batalanda and several other torture camps set up by the police.\u00a0<\/span>Interested parties should review the Batalanda Report, which the government put under the carpet.\u00a0 <\/span>People have the right to expose these and other recent government brutalities to the world: making them available to the public and the World Courts in Hague. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The president and the puppet cabinet have no ideas about how to boost the economy, reverse the economic calamity, and overcome political and financial crises.\u00a0 <\/span>Therefore, he has turned into what he is familiar with\u2014using \u201cBatalanda tactics\u201d to (ab)use the police to carry out extra-judicial brutalities to suppress the youth uprising.\u00a0 <\/span>The public sees him as selfish, opportunistic, uncompassionate, and unethical.<\/p>\n

The following video is yet another example of the Sri Lankan government using police brutality\u00a0against unarmed, peaceful protest marches by university students and other citizens.\u00a0 <\/span>Is this democracy or dictatorship? Why should any foreign countries or entities fund dictators?<\/p>\n