Roshan Goonetileke, the Governor of the Western Province and the first Marshal of the Air Force in Sri Lanka, has failed to exercise his powers as Governor.
Billions of rupees of fraud and corruption in the Colombo Municipal Council have been exposed with evidence by us as well as other media institutions. We also have the list of Municipal Councilors who committed these frauds, corruptions and irregularities with evidence. According to that evidence as well as the audit report, Western Province Governor Roshan Goonetileke should still take legal action against them. But he has not yet acted on this.
These Municipal Councilors have defrauded the people of Colombo of the taxes they pay to the Municipal Council. But the governor of the Western Province, who stands with the thieves, is still dependent on public money. The Air Force officers as well as the vehicles provided for his maintenance belong to the taxpayers of this country. He has been given special protection as governor as well as a former high military official. He is also the only retired Air Force Commander who can wear a uniform until his death. After his death, he was given special military greetings and greetings in recognition of his service to the country. All his expenses are borne by the taxpayers of this country and not by the personal estate of the present Commander of the Air Force Sudarshana Pathirana or the former Commanders of the Air Force Sumangala Dias and Kapila Jayampathi.
However, he now serves as governor, representing the president. Despite billions in fraudulent taxes, it is the President of this country who is further embarrassed by the action taken to protect the perpetrators. If we think that we can solve the existing problems without punishing the culprits and start again from the wrong place, it will only allow their frauds and corruption to continue.
Therefore, if the necessary legal action is not taken to allow for more fraud and corruption, we will have to write in the future that “military officers have no knowledge of public administration or law”
Hasitha Samarajeewa
Colombo District Correspondent
