Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel former ambassador and Chair Ambassador’s forum UK/SL

We congratulate

We congratulate ‘’Mr Mithree Gunaratna’’ PC and the media Giant and attorney -at- law ‘’Diith Jayaweera’’ for having exposed the scam of robbery, or misappropriation of 25 million us dollars to an unknown group in Australia, the funds due to be paid as an installment of the loan due to the IMF for loans granted to Sri Lanka. This scam was not informed to the public until the free lawyers group pointed out that this amount is syphoned, robbed or taken which belongs to the citizen and it appears the government willfully or by ignorance not informed the public or police came to know on January this year until Mr Gunaratna exposed the scam to the public through Free Lawyers’ group which is his civic duty as a lawyer and it is now  time for the BASL  to take the ‘relay’ as it is the duty of BASL to expose such scams against the citizen if it is done willfully by government or a private party.

 Episode

This episode is carried out with the direct supervision of the Treasury Secretary who is supposed to be an academic/politician inexperienced in such practical and complicated commercial affairs, which is difficult to an academic in other disciplines other than complicated Faisal ad Monitory issues of governances’ affairs. Funds belong to State has to be dealt with sacred and utmost care with no room to rob or taken illegally by illegal means knowingly or unknowingly using diligence as promised to the citizen. We go by news reports and according to press conferences the Treasury Secretary has an interest in Australia and it says and it is doubtful he possesses interests and roots in Australia which is to be found and clarified. If so, he is legally not in position to hold this position and next his experience and qualifications are in question as he is a politician and early an academic and not qualified or experienced to hold this post previously held by highly qualified and experienced personalities on the subject. Many law makers are academics and few professionals and the post of Treasury Secretary is the person who has the ‘Golden Key’ to the Treasury Funds stored belongs to the citizen collected by taxes and borrowed from the world organizations. Citizen must be positive that their money in treasury and banks is safe and in good hands competent to handle international transactions with no leakages such as the current episode, which is worrying.

Banking System in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka stood tall when the world was in crisis as banks in the west were collapsing our banks were careful and maintained standards and stability. Foreign Banks collapsed but only few Banka of ours collapsed due to mismanagement again. Scam at NSB is colossal with loss of billions but the Chairman and board members have not resigned yet though the entire board and the line minister must take responsibility with Central Bank the main regulator whose duty is to regulate banking system of the massive amounts robbed. Are they not responsible to the scam and if so, what is the use and idea of the appointing authority – the line minister appointing then giving responsibilities to run the instruction with all perks and facilities. Writers have to be careful naming people and scams when PTA and emergency is in operation as the powers contain are enormous arbitrary and could be used by some for their promotions. It is a matter to be notices even some state counsels are overdoing and making politically sensitive submissions expecting future promotions which is carefully observed by the legal professions and BASL at meetings discussed these behaviors of some legal professionals giving ‘jucy ‘statements to be picked by the media that will help their future promotions. Loss of the colossal amount from NDB is a hole in the safe and a worrying more than the famous Central Bank robbery by Arjun Mahandran who left Sri Lanka to attend a wedding in Singapore to attend a wedding and now said to be in Singapore or Australia leading a luxurious life out of the funds belong to Sri Lankan citizen.

Way Forward

Digitalization process is on and we must rethink before embarking on new explorations until and unless we are safe and knowledgeable. Citizen is intelligence with high rate of literacy and it literate and with 110% mobile penetration and powerful social media network with many foreign platform active in Sri Lanka. Young generation is very observant and should not be underestimated as they too have a vision for the country they live and love. Therefore, the governance will have to put forward a vision and a strategy for the nation with no corruption and innovative and modern approach for future governance with the future generation in mind. The episodes of this nature have to be avoided and professionalism and professionals including professional politicians should come forward with a new vision that attracts the young and the world. (Wijesinghesarath05@gmail.com 0094766530166)