Cooperation to catch thieves; roses for pooja; breaching bonds

Cassandra drooled with anticipation when reading the headlined article in the Sunday Island of August 13 titled Cops to join IRD to raise revenue. It continued to say that the police had launched a new collaboration with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) “to track down unexplained wealth and go after black money.” This move to collaborate came after the police started investigating Pastor Jerome and the discovery of over Rs. 12 billion which had gone unnoticed by the IRD.  Thus, the wise decision to collaborate and share police findings with the tax department.  “The two departments can work in a complementary manner to increase government revenue” was what was said. The write-up was accompanied by a picture of Thilini Priyamali and a reminder of her cache of black money; she defrauded 226 m from several individuals, some very well known.

Up one moment, down the next

Cassandra said she drooled with anticipation of rogues of this country being caught at last for scraping off country’s money and stashing it overseas or wherever, thus impoverishing Sri Lanka. Cass believes it was not the Covid pandemic nor Prez Gotabaya R’s mismanagement of agriculture and taxes and much more that were the two major causes of us going bankrupt and turning into beggars. The rampant corruption and stealing money were also a very potent contributory factor to our bankruptcy. Also, government extravagance.

So, we want the stolen money back. Rogues are well known. At least cannot the sugar scam and garlic cheat perpetrators be forced to fork out the millions they made?  Judging what is done in the country and has been done, or rather not done to catch rogues and get stolen monies back is what evaporated Cass’ initial joy at reading that police and IRD were to cooperate to get money to the Treasury.

Our countrymen are well known, at least politicians and officials are well known for being loud in pronouncement and swearing they work for the betterment of the people but action is nil in most of what they pontificate on and promise. Pus vedillas all. So even the police promising to join up with the IRD to bring back pilfered money or out black money hoarded in the country is taken with a fistful of salt. All bunkum, we are prone to say. Thus, Cass’ drooling turned into a dry mouth of disappointment through past experience.  Powerful rogues or those with powerful friends will go on thieving and thriving and the country remains poor. However, we will watch carefully to see how the promised collaboration works.

Quarantined roses

“Roses for pooja held at BIA by plant quarantine officers” was a sub-headline in the same newspaper. “Airport sources told the Sunday Island that the union leaders held a meeting in support of the Plant Quarantine Unit Officials who feared victimisation after stopping the release of 20 crates of roses from India brought to the country by Tirukumar Nadesan.”  How much would these crates of roses have cost? How many malnourished children could have been fed with that money? Would any god or gods of whichever pantheon bless the pooja and grant the supplicant immense hubris and extravagance, whatever benefit he expects from his expensive supplication?

Professionals sneaking away

   The GMOA particularly highlighting the accelerated recent brain drain has been aired over TV. Mentioned is also that many professionals who are sent by the government for higher qualifications or training do not return; quietly sneaking into greener pastures. Thus, the money spent by a cash strapped country for the general benefit of the country goes down the drain. Cass is constrained to narrate two personal experiences connected with this issue but of several decades ago. Even then there was a drain with even medical students after free education right through, scooting off after their internship.

   Cass was in the Katunayake Airport in the departure lounge when she noticed a woman studiously avoiding showing her face to her. This sort of behaviour is easily noticed. Then in the flurry of gathering hand luggage and moving to emplane, she recognised the woman. The dame had very recently been overseas on a university paid scholarship. She was absconding with family, which was proven when Cass returned to SL and made enquiries.

The second narrative is truly personal. Cass was sent on overseas training to the UK by the institution she worked in under UNESCO sponsorship. Her colleague who was sent the previous year was bonded for three years. This signed bond and her having to refund the money spent on her training if she wished to leave for three years, delayed her marriage.

This delayed marriage was, most probably, the cause of her not having a child. Cass was not bonded before she departed for her training. Why? Because another woman of the institution was sent East that same year to a similar school and was a family friend of the chief administrator of the institution. So, to give that dame freedom to return or stay over or transfer herself, she was not bonded. Cass too was given the privilege.

Cass was then desperate to get her only child to a university overseas as universities here were more closed than open due to student unrest. En route on her return to Sri Lanka, Cass stopped over in an affluent Mid East country. Merely through interest, she requested and was granted permission to visit a like institution in the country. The Head spoke to her.

He was very interested in hiring her: professionally qualified and UK trained. Her child would have been educated anywhere in the world with no cost to her. Additionally, she would have earned a packet. But she felt duty bound to return to Sri Lanka and serve her place of work from which she was given training. Needless to say, she was free to abscond. Never entertained the idea nor allowed temptation to intervene. Her child had to work his way through higher education. But her conscience was clear.

Those were the ethical standards followed then of dedication and loyalty. Money was certainly not everything and dishonesty was never ever even thought of as do-able; employees at higher levels being of decent families and good schools. Within a short while disloyalty, utter selfishness and money madness cankered our society. The first to get the evil desires were top notch officials and politicians.

Then cheating and short changing the country that gave free education right up to university and professional competence crept in. Now the ‘want to go abroad’ mantra is on most Sri Lankan lips. High taxes are quoted as the cause of the brain drain and the government refuses to revise them, while closing its eyes to all the illicit money grabbing scams that still continue.

So true: Sri Lanka is a land like no other!