Hold impartial inquiry on bond scam
Posted on November 8th, 2016
Resignation has been demanded because the Central Bank technically came under the purview of the Prime Minister and he had given relevant instructions to the bank with regard to the bond issue They point out that even after the bond scam the Prime Minister was not in favour of removing Mahendran from the post, but it was President Maithripala Sirisena who finally prevented his reappointment by nominating Indrajith Coomaraswamy to the post of Central Bank Governor.
Following the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) the Prime Minister, however, referred the committee’s report to the Attorney General for legal action. It is in this context that the joint opposition has threatened to organize countrywide protests demanding the Premier’s resignation.
One thing that is relevant here is that ours is not a country where politicians have ever set examples in the past by resigning from their positions whenever some major allegations were levelled against them. The other point is, if Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns at this juncture will it resolve all our problems? At least will it be the end of all corruption in the country?
On the contrary it will be the beginning of a new political crisis in the country especially at a time the new government is trying to put the economy on the right track with some clear vision for the future.
The advantages of such a resignation and the ensuing political uncertainty will go to corrupt politicians who are already being investigated and those who are already indicted and have little choice other than making every effort to topple this administration.
Meanwhile President Maithripala Sirisena has publicly stated that he came to power with the promise of good governance and therefore his responsibility is not only to punish those who have done wrong things in the past but also to prevent recurrence of such things under his own administration.
The President is still the head of the state and head of the executive and has all the powers to ensure an independent investigation into this matter and punish those who are responsible. He has made it clear that he is determined to obtain an impartial verdict through the country’s legal system.
So what is necessary is to rely on the assurances given by the President and our own legal system and to carefully watch the manner in which the investigations are conducted and not to create political chaos by having public campaigns demanding resignations or change of administration.
November 9th, 2016 at 4:33 am
Yes, Ranil Wickramasinghe must resign immediately. This is the honourable thing to do. The country should be run by a PM who holds the confidence of most people. This is very important. Someone else who holds the confidence of the people should be appointed the PM by President Sirisena. Besides, Arjunan Mahendran did say the PM, meaning Ranil, asked him to do it. Therefore he should resign immediately which is the honourable thing to do and let any investigations take place without any interference. In other countries, this is what happens after this type of incident. So it is not at all unique.
November 9th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
In the first place the Government should arrest and remand the culprits of this Multi Billion Mega Scam and then only carryout investigations. Already the money is leaving the island.
Aappa Sirisena has a right to do this by the people of this country, as it is they who are now called upon to pay up through VAT tax and other similar to mitigate the damage of this Bond Scam.
Ranil Ponil will never resign on his own accord, as it is the Colombo Establishment who keeps him in power and as leader of the UNP. He should find his waterloo one day in the near future!