Wednesday, 10 July 2013 00:00
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IN the last few days, Sri Lanka’s culture of impunity has been taking a long stroll in the public eye, but has faced no consequences even though there are negative results to society had large.
One such instance was when the American company managing the Nooriya Tea Estate in Deraniyagala has informed the Government that it would leave its operations in the country over the killing of the estate’s superintendent.
The Sri Lanka Planters’ Association has told the BBC Sinhala Service that the Texas-based American company managing the tea estate, Walters Bay International, has informed Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe that under the present environment they cannot continue the management of the estate.
The superintendent of the tea estate, Nihal Perera, 71, was hacked to death last Friday by a group of people who were reportedly against the measures taken by the estate manger to curtail corruption and wastage. The Police believe a group of five assailants backed by a local politician had attacked Perera and two others. Perera died of his injuries and the other two are receiving treatment at Karawanella Hospital.
Reportedly the former Chairman of Deraniyagala Pradeshiya Sabha Anil Champika Wijesinghe and other ruling party politicians were alleged of interfering with the management of the estate. There are also allegations that when previous threats were reported to the Police, no action was taken.
This is strongly reminiscent of the Tangalle incident where a British tourist was killed and his Russian girlfriend raped. So politicised has the case become that it had to be moved from Tangalle to Colombo as the chief suspect, who also happens to be the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, was charged with threatening witnesses.
The recent brutal attack by a bouncer at a night club in Colombo also smacks of the same impunity. A 21-year-old student was hospitalised yet it was only when the case came before court that the Excise Department admitted that the nightclub was operating illegally without a valid liquor license. Even though the night club has been in operation for over a year and incredibly popular, there was no response from the authorities.
In the most recent event the brother of a Cabinet Minister was let off for speeding due to pressure from “above”. His blatant unconcern and callous disregard for the law was upheld by a system that has decided to undermine the very basis for a civilised society. The fact that he could have injured or even killed an innocent person is disregarded and a reprehensible practice allowed to continue.
From offspring that cannot find a toilet on an airplane to tying public officials to trees, the many crimes and transgressions of politicians and their cronies would fill a shelf of books. But no matter how many times they intentionally break the law, there are no consequences – or so they like to believe.
But there are costs. These costs are felt by a society which has lost its value system, corroded its integrity and stolen equality away from the weak. It is felt by the victims, in the past, present and future. Most of all, it is felt by a society that has no faith in itself to fix these problems.
