-By Michael Joachim
(Lanka-e-News -07.July.2025, 7.45 PM) The recent speech by the Commissioner General of the Bribery Commission in a public on Bribery to the extend it has seeped into the society caught the attention of the Public and the Government servants.
Against this backdrop , all the media outlets have been continuously telecasting “breaking News” on the attest , remanding or sentencing of politicians and government officials on charges of corruptions. This news has now became hot news for people who have been waiting for such news. Thus, now an environment has been created as if the entire country is revolving around the theme of “corruption, and unethical conduct ”
A few months ago, it was revealed in Parliament that politicians had received huge amounts of compensation for their properties being burnt or damaged during the Aragalaya period. Not only that, they have received compensation from the government but some have also received an additional compensation from the insurance schemes. Then the surprise came that a member of the former president’s family has claimed and received compensation worth of crores for a building that he did not own, which has triggered the anger of the people. In addition, the politicians who are now accused of having immeasurable assets have received huge sums of money from the Presidential Fund established to support the most poor and needy. The politicians have received this compensation for their assets at a time when the country had reached a state of bankruptcy and people were dying of hunger in the streets. The entire family of Keheliya Rabukwella accused of scandals related to the health sector and the relevant ministry, has shaken the country. From then on wards news of corruption and unethical behavior continued to flow. In the incidents involving the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Prisons ,Controller of the Immigration and Migration and other departments showed that corruption and unethical behavior have penetrated like cancer deep within all the government institutions that are the foundation of the country's existence, national security, democratic values, the rule of law and the economy. The corruption and unethical conduct involving Specialist Neurologist Doctor Mahesi Wijewaratne of the Jayawathanapura Hospital who is alleged have conducted surgeries on clinically dead bodies in order to make money shook the “conscience” of the whole nation signifying that we have reached a point where corruption and unethical conduct in our “political and social culture” has reached rock bottom.
We have seen tyrants and Murders like Hittlor , who killed thousands of people by lethal injection, and Bosaka, who is said to have kept human bodies in refrigerators and ate them. Their conduct was a manifestation of “bestiality” behavior based on power, arrogance, jealousy, and hatred. But what has happened in our country is a violation of human values, , ethical behavior, and the betrayal of innocent unconditional trust of people kept on those who held positions of uncompromising social accountability . These are acts of most heinous social crimes that cannot be compared in any way with the behavior and brutality of Hitler and Bosaka. It is doubtful whether such events would have happened in any country in the world. In this context, we see “learned people” like intellectuals and lawyers justifying these crimes, citing norms like “ethical Conduct” . All this raises doubts about whether there is such a thing called as “ethical behavior” in our country still exists . Ethical conduct is not something written in books of law but it is a matter of “conscience” .
We hear of news that these political leaders accused of corruption and unethical conduct visit popular religious places giving and impression that the Gods will protect them.
The question before us now is whether our religious beliefs and human and social values still in existence. Where do we stand on the matter of “ethical thinking and conduct “.?
Why has this not caught the attention of our religious ,social leaders and intellectuals to see to what extend the religious and human values of our country have been abused and eroded? It is not surprising . The simple explanation is that the “ethical thinking and behavior “ has lost its real meaning in our country.
Are the religious leaders of all four major religions , justified in maintaining silence in these matters any further. The meaning of “ethical thinking and conduct , has lost its meaning and the so called intellectuals and social leaders are not considering themselves to be accountable or answerable.
Against this backdrop it is worrying to point out that so far no religious leader has spoken about the deplorable situation in the Country relating to human, religious values and ethical norms and the contribution they can or should make to bring back this country to normalcy. Isn't it their duty and responsibility?
With the human and social values of our country having reached such a low levels, is it enough to simply punish the criminals and recover the assets they have embezzled and hand them over to the people? Can the country move forward without we bringing back the human , social values and ethical behavior that have deteriorated so badly? We are also an unfortunate country as we do not have a single “gentlemen politicians” in the whole opposition.
The government is trying to fulfill its responsibility by implementing the law impartially and trying to establish mechanisms and systems so that corruption and abuses do not occur in the future. But will this alone cannot improve human , social values and ethical behavior which are vital to establish a society with zero tolerance to corruption ?
We must remember that the Late Ven. Sobitha Thera; Bishop Dulip De Cickera , Bishop, Rayappu Joseph and few other religious leaders who openly and vigorously spoke about good governance and ethical behavior and emphasized that religions must contribute to the good governance and sustainability of the country, which brought about a major changes in the political arena of the country. Unfortunately, our country failed to maintain and sustain the changes.
Can religious leaders remain silent any longer?
The government has presented the Clean Sri Lanka concept .
Can only the Government alone carry forward the vital social reforms?
In this context, we suggest thata all religious leaders should jointly call on the government to convene a “religious conference” to rebuild the human , social values and ethical behavior of this country. Religious conferences have been held in the country before. But the purpose of the religious conference to be convened now is completely different. Beyond simply fostering understanding between religions, it should be a conference that prepares our country, which is struggling with its highly eroded human and social value system and to transform same into a corruption-free, ethically sound , and socially accountable country. This conference should serve as a catalyst to encourage Religious institutions, educational institutions, schools and public sector to join this massive effort.
The government has proposed a general religious festival in October this year to promote unity among different religions. It would be effective to hold this “All religious conference” as part of such events or before that.
Finally , Mahathma Gandi once said.
“Those in this world who have the courage to try and solve
problems of life are the ones who raise society to greatness.
Those who merely live according to rule
do not advance society, they carry it along.”
(Mahatma Gandhi.)
Executive Director, Plantation Rural Education and Development Organization.
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by (2025-07-07 14:21:25)
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