Don’t look colour, politics or other differences when taking legal actions against corruptions –Upul

Upul Jayasooriya , an eminent Lawyer of the National Lawyers’ Association said the government of Sri Lanka should take court action against corruptions in present, past and the future. Addressing a media briefing on Sunday he said the COPE report, which exposed corruption in many Institutions. The Ports Authority, where, too shady deals are alleged. These are only a few of the many corrupt deals. In all these cases the Government instead of exposing or taking action against them has only made concerted e suppress the swindles and rackets, he exhorted.

Upul Jayasooriya , Media spokesman and an eminent Lawyer representing the National Lawyers’ Association said , it is the duty of the Lawyers as representatives of people’s legal rights to come forward and crusade against attempts, even if it is by the President, his Government or any other, to foment lawlessness, stifle freedom of the people and Media , trample the rule of law , and create an environment of anarchy and corruption in the country which had so long been preserved, protected and nurtured in the best traditions of Democracy.
“Hitherto, we allowed the politicians as people’s representatives to look after the Democratic Institutions of the country, and interests of the people and their aspirations. But, as we now find that the highest of hierarchy of the country, he said.
“President himself is allegedly indifferent to or is the cause of all these problems and issues: not implementing the 17th amendment, toying with the constitutional provisions, while the law enforcing authorities also failing to bring the culprits and criminals duly to book, we, as Lawyers have decided to espouse the people’s cause for a better corruption free, democratic and lawful governance”, he added.

Jayasooriya cited the countless instances of corrupt transactions and Government profligacy at the expense of people’s money, including white elephant projects like the Mihin air which incurred a loss of Rs. 3000 million rupees with no action taken by the Government against those responsible.
The MiG 27 jet purchases; which transaction was concluded with a company, which had its existence only within the confines of a room in London, where millions of Dollars Government corruption is alleged.
Besides, in the Budget, 80 % of the total revenue is allocated to President’s offices alone , and with the Parliamentary power of financial control being sidelined , unlike under the earlier regimes, the President’s expenditure trespasses on all controls, he exclaimed.

Indeed, Dr. Sharvananda a top-notch economist has also referred to the prevalent widespread corruption in the Government ranks, he asserted.

The Government has no money to give the Samurdhi beneficiaries, which annual amount is only Rs. 800 million per year. Neither does it have money to give a justifiable salary increase to the workers, but it is prepared to spend another several billion rupees for the SAARC conference.

For all the sins of the Government it is the people who have to pay. Endless Taxation, ruthless and regular tariff hikes and rising of price of food and essential goods burdening the people are the answers the Government has to cover up its corruption and wasteful expenditure. He lamented.

Even as recently as a month ago, despite people’s agonies and poverty stricken state , there has been another discovery of a huge corrupt Government deal which shall be exposed when all details of it are known, Jaysooriya added.