‘Individuals who robbed public funds should be punished without regard for their status’: Minister A

Special Assignments Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said at Wettawa, Galagedara, that individuals who robbed public funds without any shame should be given the maximum punishment without regard to their status. 

Addressing a Local Government Election propaganda rally the Minister further said: “Those who have robbed our people’s money should be severely punished irrespective of their position. Some people who have robbed public property and public funds without any shame have now attached the ‘patriot’ label to themselves and surrounded by their henchmen are trying to shine in all their glory. Therefore public opinion, the demand of the people, is that those who robbed the people’s money – the public funds, should be punished. The President is now engaged in punishing those who robbed government funds through the bonds scam and in recovering that money. In the same way action will be taken to bring the other robbers also to justice before long.

Theft, fraud and corruption will not reign in a country if the law functions properly. Therefore it is the duty and responsibility of those who govern, to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails. People can be protected and the security of the country ensured only if the law functions properly. Therefore we should seek to implement the law to the letter. If a country’s governance is allowed to be overwhelmed by theft, thuggery, and bribery there is no future for that country nor security for its people. That is the reason for the decline of some African countries. The people of our country are mild and beautiful. That beauty should not be allowed to be dirtied by the sinful hands of politicians. What most politicians try hard to do is to maximise their power and wealth. In the process we see some politicians riding rough shod over all values and moral codes. The people should act to see that they are punished as they deserve. The penniless man who enters politics becomes a billionaire in no time. There are many such instances before you. People should remain very vigilant about this situation and emphatically resolve to get rid of them.  It is the duty of the people to elect a set of very respectable people to the local government institutions, at these elections. That duty has to be performed well. If that is not done those local government bodies will become hot beds of corruption and theft. If that happens, people will not be able to get their work done. It is when a clean administration exists that public affairs will get done successfully and fast. When the administration is overcome by corruption nothing gets done properly in any institution. Therefore the biggest responsibility is to elect a set of the best people available as ones representatives.