It is announced that President Rajapakse has taken steps to enable the Parliamentary committee on corruption to function. It is really a timely measure.

It was during the 1970—1977 period that corruption was at its height in this country. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s UF government was then in power. Thereafter, the corruption continued after 1977 during the period of J.R.Jayarwadene’s UNP government. Even the government that came to power in 1994 did not show any concern in driving bribery and corruption away.

Chandrika Kumaratunga who fled from Sri Lanka to save her life in 1988, on return charged that the UNP government was responsible for bribery and corruption in the country.

She also charged that the UNP government was responsible for state terrorism. She assured to bring down the cost of living and avoid waste of public funds if she came to power.

But, after she assumed power, the promises were not kept. The bribery and corruption increased during her regime. It was common knowledge that there was corruption even in the purchase of weapons for war.

It is in such a context that President Rajapakse has taken a healthy measure to make the Parliamentary committee on corruption to function. Corruption cannot be eliminated merely by words. We need action.

An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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