Revealing assets of ministry officials to halt corruption

I read with interest a series of articles published recently on the ‘expressway deal’ between the Ministry of Highways and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). It was apparent that the highway ministry secretary negotiated with the above company for several projects without facilitating open tenders. Lack of transparency and corruption have been two terms that are synonymous with road development projects in Sri Lanka.

A scandal that shocked Sri Lanka recently was of the Police Narcotic Bureau officials who were arrested on the charges of having links with drug traffickers. A positive move in confiscating and probing into assets of the accused and their immediate family revealed unbelievable amounts of wealth gathered over years of drug trafficking.

Discussions by the Ministry of Highways with CHEC to construct an 18km long elevated expressway from Athurugiriya to New Kelani Bridge has a massive payback amounting to US$3 billion. It is no secret that a reward scheme or a commission is involved when these types of government contracts are offered to various parties.

I think the time is ripe for all assets of top government officials and their family members to be probed into, as the once glorious and respectable government sector projects have been replaced by shady deals. This will secure the reputation of at least a few honest officers who are determined to serve mother Lanka.

JUSTIN EHELIYAGODA SENIOR SURVEYOR (RETD)