Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has held that the former President Chandrike Kumaratunga had abused her authority to obtain retirement benefits. The cabinet headed by her had allocated one and a half acres of land belonging to the Urban Development Authority in Madiwela area close to the Parliament.

It had also allocated a large residence to her near the Independence Square in Colombo. The cabinet also authorized her to retain 198 security officers, employ 63 officers and to use 36 government vehicles.

Three lawyers had petitioned to the Supreme Court that President Chandrike had abused her authority to seek retirement benefits.

The court noted that after this application was filed in the Supreme Court, ex-president Kumarantunga returned the Madiwella land by a notarial instrument.

Chandrike Kumaratunga has been the Executive President of this country for 11 long years. Supreme Court has held that she had abused her powers to lead a comfortable life. It has also blamed certain members of the Cabinet for aiding the former President. These Ministers are still in the present cabinet.

The three attorneys- at- law, who raised this issue in the Supreme Court, need to be commended. Today, politics have become an art to cause fraud and abuse of public properties for personnel comforts. Today, most of the people enter politics to make money.

It is difficult to find a political culture sans corruption and abuse.

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

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