We need to end culture of politicians having a free ride
The appalling news that a national list MP, a trade union leader cum civil society activist who supported the ‘Good-Governance’ in 2015, and was appointed to fill a vacancy at the tail-end of the last Parliament ended his six-day career by pocketing a car permit leaving the poor tax payer to nurse the injury caused by the Rs 15 million [or double the amount?] loss they suffered, is fresh in our minds.
A dozen of candidates rejected by the voters were subsequently accommodated through the National Lists by the UNF, UPFA and JVP, with utter disregard for people’s sovereignty, and creating a very bad precedent. This should not be repeated. If the party leaders make a policy statement on non-acceptance of jumping frogs, people will have more faith in the parliamentary democracy.
In 2016, after issuing permits to all 225 MPs, the government announced severe restrictions on imports for a period of one year, in a last ditch attempt to ease pressure on the rupee, which included the duty free importation of vehicles by parliamentarians.
The downtrodden masses who pay tax on onions, sprats and potatoes have to tolerate these injustices. These MPs or the buyer of their permit gets a luxury vehicle for which we are compelled to pay an exorbitant duty. They utilise the Duty Free Permits to enrich their private coffers, while the country has been deceived at least Rs 7 billion in revenue over the five years due to the abuse. It was revealed that for a luxury vehicle imported by a parliamentarian few years ago, total revenue of Rs. 44 million was waived off as duty by the customs. Article 148 says that Parliament shall exercise full control of the public finance. Therefore, any citizen who gets tax immunity on any item and intends to sell the item should get approval and pay all taxes, fees, fines prior to the disposal of it.
Therefore, it is against the law to dispose the vehicle permit by a law-maker who unjustly commits an offence under the Bribery Act of Sri Lanka.
Some of them who have been directly involved in bank heists and other corrupt deals should suffer stiffer penalties for the crimes committed; further, they should be left out of nomination lists until proven innocent. If found guilty, their family properties should be confiscated to recover part of the loot. We need a change of culture; politicians make money, enjoy undeserved privileges; it’s time to end this process.
The voter has a right to demand that those elected at the next April 25 election be deprived of such privileges. The former government two years ago approved Rs 100,000 each in addition to the monthly salaries and perks; and a group of about 50 selected UNP lawmakers received in addition a monthly transport allowance of Rs 200,000 to visit their constituencies.
The national economy needs an enormous boost to uplift the living standards of the poor people. Party leaders, please ensure you make special clauses in your manifestos to this effect.