DailyMirror
Says need a proper implementation of legislation
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said bribery, waste and corruption had ruined the country in an alarming manner despite the availability of sufficient legal provisions. He said that it was a matter for grave concern.
The President said that the eradication of waste and corruption were pre-requisites for Sri Lanka to achieve a speedy national development as the profit margin and capital investment have been severely affected.
Delivering the keynote address at the golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebrations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) at the BMICH last night he said: “What we need is work. We have enough legal frameworks to tackle corruption. What is lacking is the proper implementation of these legislations. .”
He said that the government plans its future strategies with a clear target and vision. But, at a difficult time these would not achieve its target. Sri Lanka had to confront pressures from various quarters during the global economic meltdown. Not only Sri Lanka but also most powerful economies had to take the brunt of the economic crunch. Banks with billions of assets collapsed over night. Thousands of employees were made redundant and multi national companies went bankrupt. But Sri Lanka was able to emerge almost unscathed from the ‘Thun Biya’ (three frights), fuel crisis, food crisis and global economic down turn due to the policies adopted by the government.
The ‘Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu’ programme saved the country from the food crisis. The sound banking and fiscal management protected the local banks from collapse. The government carried out these programmes despite advice received to cut down subsidies and prune the public service.
“We did not sell the state assets or stop public recruitments to generate treasury income. We could have easily deviated from the people friendly policies but we did not do that. It is not my habit to give up,” President Rajapaksa said.
Some talk continuously about a collapse of the economy. These prophets of doom actually talk about their political agenda but not the economy. Their modus operandi is to come to power by hook or by crook. It is a matter of regret that some professionals have also joined the band wagon to play the dirty game of false propaganda, the President said.