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| Diplomatic Thieves |
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| (Lanka-e-News, July 30, 2010, 5.45PM) According to the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index for 2009 almost half of the people in the world live in places where corruption thrives. The Transparency International defines corrupt as “the misuse of entrusted power for private gain.” This has become a common phenomenon in the government sector in Sri Lanka. We often hear about corruption by the high ranking officials of the government institutions. Yet, there had been no or very little action to take them down or clean the government service. The main reason could be that some leaders are also corrupted and incompetent. |
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We have found that the people in one of the most noble and highly sophisticated field which is known as diplomatic service are highly corrupted. Politicization of these institutions and government's failure or reluctance to take action against the corrupted officers are main reasons for thriving of corruption and misuse of power. At present 62 percent of the employees in the Embassies are political appointees. As they have political backing and protection they involve in corruption as they wish. Because of that we hear one diplomatic thief taking the house owners piano to Sri Lanka. Despite many requests by the Japanese Embassy in Colombo External Affairs Ministry took no action against him. Another highly corrupted political Ambassador in Europe has opened a sub office of the Embassy in another city of the country to collect passports and documents to be authenticated charging money. He has employed one of his relations in this office. This Ambassador's monthly income from this sub office is more than one million rupees. Reward for his action was to grant an extension of service for another six months. The same man was accused of misappropriation of government funds amounting to US$ 50,000/- Another envoy sold duty free liquor and got caught. Yet, external Affairs Ministry turned a blind eye on this issue. According to the External Affairs Ministry it receives complaints against 90 percent of its envoys on various types of corruption and sexual abuses.
Interestingly, the top administrator of the Ministry is also accused of misusing his position for personal gains. When he was transferred to Colombo about a year ago, he has left his child and wife in the country her served allowing them to use the government paid house. The electricity and water bills were also born by the government. In addition the school fees of the child were also paid by the Ministry. This a clear sign of misusing of power and misappropriation of government funds. As a result, now he has been unable to use the stick on others. He uses the rule only to certain section of employees in the Ministry. |
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The Minister of the External Affairs Ministry has also been reluctant to take any action against these culprits. Mainly because some of them are closer to the big house. The Minister wishes to have a smooth ride in order to safeguard his post.
More importantly, due to lethargic attitudes, inefficiency, and ineffectiveness almost all the Ambassadors serving in the main capitals were unable to secure support of the countries to prevent appointing UN panel on Sri Lanka and argue the case of Sri Lanka to secure GSP +. They even cannot meet the lowest rank of the government institutions of these countries to get their support on any matter. Yet, spending billions the government of Sri Lanka maintains them. According to the External Affairs Ministry recently 15 new cabinet papers have been submitted to appoint another set of political henchmen to the Embassies. It is clear the government wants only to compensate the followers of the political leadership and not to protect and promote the interests of Sri Lanka abroad. |
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| Retired Foreign Service Officer |
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