Unchecked bribery and corruption impact quality of life of all citizens

Not a day goes by in Sri Lanka without a report linked to bribery and corruption getting highlighted in the media. Most cases are linked to politicians and public officials, but the tentacles of the twin evils go far beyond just these two categories and have become intertwined with everyday life of Lankans by now. 

Mention certain names to any man, woman or even a child on the street, and they at once say rather convincingly that so and so is a thief (hora). As they say there is no smoke without fire and hence people’s perceptions of dishonesty of those in public life and high places is often right.

According to Transparency International, Sri Lanka is the 101 least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, as revealed by the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, not something any citizen can be proud of. The words bribery and corruption get floated around so often but people rarely think of how this impacts the lives of almost every citizen of the country except those who enjoy the fruits of ill-gotten money.

Why are hospitals without medicine? Why aren’t children in State-run schools getting a proper school meal, shoes and other essentials? Why aren’t senior citizens able to enjoy their golden years with proper welfare and benefits? Why aren’t the millions of citizens with disabilities getting proper facilities? Why don’t all people have access to electricity, pipe-borne water, better roads and better public transport? The answer is due to rampant bribery and corruption which has taken away the bulk of the money that should go into projects that are for the welfare of citizens of this country. The public loses out when millions are budgeted for highways only to have massive sums of that money stolen. They lose out when vanity projects are built costing taxpayers millions only so that few individuals can get rich.

Parliament last week approved the country’s first Anti-Corruption law, a much-needed piece of legislation. It came about more due to international pressure than a genuine interest to crackdown on corruption in the country but either way it is a welcome development. The preamble to the Bill states that it will give “effect to certain provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other internationally recognised norms, standards, and best practices” and includes provision so that private sector entities along with public sector employees can be penalised under the new law if found guilty of related offences. 

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe went on record saying that having a law is one thing, but implementation would be challenging. He is not alone in holding such views. Many will view the new Act with scepticism as no law in Sri Lanka has prevented those with the means to be corrupt from being so, but we can be hopeful that it will act as a deterrent at least to some extent.

Tackling corruption has to start at the top and not the other way around as it happens at present. A policeman who takes a Rs. 1,000 bribe is interdicted, a school principal who asks for Rs. 10,000 donation is punished, etc. while those who rake in billions by way of bribes or commissions go scot-free. Be it the small fry or the big shark, bribery and corruption should not be tolerated but when the sharks get away with no punishment, then the small fry sees no wrong in making a side income to get by. This is why if the new anti-graft law is to be effective, it must first trap the big sharks before wasting time and resources persecuting the small fry.