Perhaps, some of the reasons for this abysmal failure on the part of our government lie within its own powerhouse and power brokers. Transparency is an essential and fundamental part of any democracy and we need to ask ourselves how do we rate ourselves in this regard. Then,we need to focus our attention on our politicians who are entrusted by the people to safeguard the principles enshrined in democracy. Do they live up to the expectations of those who voted them to power in the first place ?

It is big news all over the media in UK this afternoon ( March 11) as I share my thoughts and feelings with my fellow countrymen back home in Sri Lanka. Justice Sweeney had just handed out an eight month prison sentence to each of the defendants,a husband and his ex wife. Who are these two people and what is the crime they committed? The man,58 year old Chris Huhne, former Liberal Democrat MP and Energy Secretary in David Cameron`s coalition government and his ex wife,Vicky Pryce, 60, an economist. They were prosecuted for perverting the course of justice when they both lied over a speeding offence committed in 2003 while driving from Stansted Airport in Essex and caught on camera.

Chris Huhne, an European Member of Parliament at the time, falsely declared that it was his ex- wife who was driving at the time, hoping to pass on the penalty points to her. When their marriage ended in divorce after Chris left Vicky and the children to set up home with his media adviser,things turned very nasty. Wanting to take revenge in the ensuing bitter acrimony,Vicky divulged to the media that Chris coerced her into accepting the penalty points in order to save his high Cabinet post which he assumed later. There was no turning back since as the Essex Police handed the case over to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the pair are beginning their prison sentence today after their dishonesty and lying were played out in the open in Southwark Crown Court.

Chris Huhne is not the only high profile politician in UK to serve a prison sentence. Former Conservative high flyer and Cabinet Minister,dashing and promising politician, Jonathan Aitken, was sent to the most secure, Belmarsh Prison in Thamesmead, London in 1998,home to some of the most notorious criminals after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice and perjury. At the height of his career, he was tipped to be a future Prime Minister with former PM Margaret Thatcher allegedly wishing to have him as a son in law if only he fancied her only daughter, Carol. Then, another household name and high profile,millionaire politician and former chairman of the Conservative Party and well known author, Jeffery Archer ended up in the same fate after falling foul of the law.

Although we hear of wrong doing by our politicians, past and present,why is it that they manage to remain above the law? Can you just imagine the plight of anyone questioning a high profile politician in Sri Lanka? Perhaps, I may be permitted to remind ourselves of the fate of former Chief Justice who tried in vain to defend the independence of the judiciary. In a free world where news travels instantaneously,it does not do any good for the standing of our country in the eyes of the international community when some politicians behave as if they are a law unto themselves. Widespread corruption and abuse of power go unpunished and those who dare speak against them do so at their peril.

President Rajapaksa would command better respect from western democracies if he sets about the all important task of cleaning up his corrupt politicians who bring shame and discredit to his government and allow the law of the land to take its course, no matter who they are. GTF would be less powerful on the world stage if we put our own house in order. Even former communist Russia showed greater initiative in "glasnost" (openness) under its respectable leader Mikhail Gorbachev who despite his failing health, still openly criticises the all powerful- ruling Putin at the ripe old age of 82.

Sunil Dharmabandhu