Elements loyal to President tarnish Ranil’s image
By Vickramabahu Karunaratne-2018-01-11When the accusation of corruption in the issuance of Central Bank Bonds under the Yahapalana Government was made, many believed it to be a ploy of the Mahinda group. There was the belief that Ranil Wickremesinghe is free of corruption and any money drawn from the Government coffers will be used for a valid political purpose. Even if there was an illicit manipulation it could be explained in term of political needs.
Many had voted for the new leaders led by Ranil, because they promised to be transparent and non-corrupt. In particular Ranil had such a track record. Human beings believe in something good that prevailed in the past and hope it will come in the future to sustain their hope and thereby their lives. The hope of those who voted for the new Government was that its leaders would not be corrupt, and they would have the capacity to lead the country under globalization, to become a developed one like many countries of Southeast Asia have become in a short period. Denials of wrong doing on the part of Government leaders led by Ranil were therefore convenient for many, who supported the democratic change, to accept.
However, when the Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena began its hearings, which were publicized in the media, the faithful supporters were in pain and questioned why Ranil does not explain what happed and for what purpose this financial manipulation was made. Slowly their faith in the Government leaders became eroded. There is a strong desire in the country that the practice of corruption, especially, at the top should not be permitted to continue. The Commissioners, who had proven track records of competence, conducted themselves in a restrained manner but did their task well. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe volunteered to go before them and give evidence. That made the faithful happy and hopeful. There is criticism that the Prime Minister was not subject to the tough cross-examination that some of the others who came before the Commission had to cope with. But this is not entirely true, because with penetrating analysis the Commission has issued strictures on him too.
The report of the Bond Commission has stated that the Prime Minister should not have believed the Central Bank officials on the bond issue.
Many political and social leaders, both here and abroad, have pointed to the significant fact that an incumbet Prime Minister was summoned before the Commission and went before it. He was questioned by the Commissioners and gave his evidence before them. This has set a precedent that all are equal before the law. This is a practice in western countries but not in the less developed countries. If Sri Lanka is now on the path to being a developed country, there needs to be pressure from civil society, political parties and the courts of law, to take it there. The Prime Minister himself, called for an early debate on the Commission Report in Parliament. This happened immediately and there was very interesting discussion and became an opportunity to discuss institutional reforms necessary to avoid such breakdowns.
In this context, President Sirisena's statement to the nation on the Presidential Commission Report played a negative role according to many critics. They say the Commission Report has given to the President the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the political platform on which he sought election in January 2015. It also comes at an opportune time when he leads his party at the Local Government election campaign. The main plank of the political platform at the Presidential Election three years ago, from the Sirisena side was the issue of corruption in the acts of the Mahinda regime. In his election campaign the President pledged to eliminate corruption and to bring in good governance. The problem of democracy and the national problem were emphasized by Ranil and Sama Samaja leaders backed by civil society. There is a campaign to tarnish the image of non-racist democratic leaders, particularly Ranil, by some elements loyal to Sirisena. They say the tight monitoring of corruption that was anticipated did not materialize. Instead sections of the Government have slipped into large scale corruption; so much so, it has provided an opportunity for those in the former Mahinda regime, to shout loudly for harassing them!
