Corruption destroying human life, says judge

Story and pictures from Sinniah Gurunathan,Trinco correspondent

The foundation of human life is destroyed when corruption enters environmental preservation agencies, said Trincomalee High Court Judge E.T.Anton Balasingham who participated as the chief guest at a one-day legal awareness programme on bribery and corruption held for the benefit of public servants and police officials in Trincomalee town.

It was held at the Trincomalee modern court complex under the auspices of the Trincomalee regional centre of the Sri Lanka Legal Aid Commission and was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Justice Ameer Ismail, Chairman of the Commission investigating complaints into Bribery and Corruption, and Commission Director Neville Guruge were the main speakers.

A section of the participants at the seminar

“According to an international study conducted by the UN, authorities were unable to bring the offenders to book due to several obstacles as bureaucrats are involved in corruption. Hence the rule of law is under question, good governance is shattered and people started to lose confidence in the concept of democracy,” said Mr. Balasingham.

“The administrative machinery is disorganized due to corruption which prevents appointment of qualified persons. Development of the country in all spheres could be ensured with the elimination of corruption. Assistance of public servants is vital to achieve this goal. The foundation of human life is destroyed when corruption enters environmental preservation agencies,” he said.

Foreign countries and agencies would not come forward to assist countries rampant with corruption thus depriving needed foreign aid for development, he added.Justice Ismail said the whole world has been working to usher an honest society free from corruption. Time had come to instil awareness among public servants and the public against bribery and corruption, he said.

Trincomalee District Judge Ms S.Chandramani, who was the guest of honour, Trincomalee District Civil Appellate High Court Judge S.Thiagendran and Mr. Guruge also spoke. Attorney-at-law R.Thirukumaranathan, co-ordinator of the Trincomalee regional centre of the Sri Lanka Legal Aid Commission outlined the objective of the programme to the participants at the commencement.Trincomalee Magistrate V.Ramakamalan and Kantale Magistrate Sampath Egapitiya also attended the programme.