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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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Business circles welcome President's stand on bribery Weekend Politics By Suraj & Viraj President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's forceful statement in New York that all forms of bribery and corruption should be brought to light to punish offenders has been welcomed by all quarters in the country that includes all business chambers. She has made this reply in response to the "Daily News" Correspondent Manjula Fernando's question during her current visit to the United States. Business circles in the country fed up of bribery and corruption by several former UNP ministers hailed the statement of the President on Friday which said that she would leave no room for anyone to be considered above the law. The once defunct Bribery Commission now in action was commended by the President for fearlessly probing complaints against top people reported to be involved in bribery and corruption. The latest suspect arrested was a senior Deputy Inspector General of Police. The Bribery Commission and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been very active over the recent months to probe and net in sharks involved in bribery and corruption. The Presidential Task Force to combat bribery and corruption too is in action probing activities of certain ministries during the two year UNP administration. Some UNP ministers of the previous regime have gone to court challenging the allegations while a few have decided to maintain silence. UNPers view the silent attitude of such former ministers with suspicion at a time the party has begun to take on the government with regard to the rising cost of living. The CID and the Presidential Task force to combat Bribery and Corruption are now in possession of relevant documents where huge sums have been reportedly siphoned off from state institutions by those former UNP ministers who have decided to maintain silence. Reliable sources disclose that these former ministers are planning to escape by putting the blame on officials who released such huge sums. But, according to very reliable sources the detectives are in possession of documents hand written and signed by those ministers requesting the release of such huge sums of money. On Friday, the UNP took to the streets over the rising cost of living. The venue was opposite the Colombo Fort railway station. A few thousands were seen carrying placards and shouting slogans against government ministers .The main target of the protestors was the JVP firebrand Wimal Weerawansa. The posters were about the increased prices of essential goods and no charges were made about bribery or corruption by ministers of the present government. It indicated that the present UPFA government was free from bribery and corruption menace that embraced the country during the two year stint of the UNP led UNF government. The rising cost of living is also a concern of the government. It has expressed regret and had promised to combat it by taking speedy measures. Commerce Minister, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle has already decided to import rice from neighbouring India and Pakistan to prevent further increases in the price of rice in the market. However, the government has failed to combat the rising prices in milk foods, an essential for children. Meanwhile, President Kumaratunga used her visit to the US to work out plans to recommence the stalled peace process. She met the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Peterson to discuss ways to resume the peace process early and expressed dissatisfaction over ceasefire violations by the LTTE and murders of political opponents by the Tigers. The LTTE is on a killing spree of its rival EPDP members with latest killing reported from Wellawatte on Thursday. Senior EPDP leader S. Sivathasan on Friday urged the government to protect EPDP members and called upon the international community to pressurize the Tigers to halt political killings. The LTTE seem to be taking advantage of the delay to resume the peace talks. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the mouth piece of the LTTE warned the Colombo government on Thursday in parliament that further delay to resume the peace talks would result in war. "We are prepared for war at anytime", TNA MP Sivajilingam warned. Despite the LTTE's stance of warning of another war, the Tamils living in the North and East oppose such a move as they have begun to rebuild their damaged houses and has begun reconstruction and cultivation activity. If the LTTE decides on war it would be detrimental to the interests of the innocent Tamils living in the two provinces. The time is quite opportune to begin talks as the LTTE has agreed to discuss the government's proposals alongside the ISGA put forward by them. The ISGA is only a proposal and those within the government should extend support to the President to break the deadlock on the issue. If the government could get its house in order, the support of the UNP would not be an urgent issue on the matter. The UNP is playing their cards in a subtle manner. It has decided to keep away from the political party leaders meeting on October 4 to discuss the formation of the National advisory Committee on Peace. The UNP leader has rejected the President's offer to co-chair that Committee. In order to test the honesty of the UNP towards peace, the UPFA partner, the JVP must play hand in hand with the government to resume talks. A hardline attitude by the JVP on the ISGA will only push the SLFP-JVP government into further difficulty giving advantage to the UNP. On the other hand it gives the opportunity to the LTTE to tell the world that Colombo is not interested in a solution to the problem. Matters pertaining national interest, the Executive President is vested with exclusive powers to take decisions. Such decisions need only to be referred to cabinet for ratification. This was followed by the late President J.R. Jayewardene with regard to the Indo- Lanka Accord with Rajiv Gandhi. Jayewardene discussed the accord with only two ministers. They were Gamini Dissanayake and Ronnie De Mel. Thereafter, he decided and placed his signature and then referred it to cabinet for ratification. Though Prime Minister Premadasa opposed the Accord, he was told by Jayewardene to introduce it in parliament. Lalith Athulathmudali who lodged his protest towards the Accord was told to open the debate for the government. That was how Jayewardene used his executive powers when making decisions. |
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