We have like the British built our Parliamentary system on a bedrock of tradition and convention. Now take corruption away from the system and there is a strong likelyhood of its collapsing altogether. Corruption has been the life blood of the system here and stopping it would lead to dire consequences. (For the MPs of course).

Of what good is an MP who cannot take a goodwill gift. He will like a Zombie, be wondering round Parliament asking himself what he is doing there, if he was not to take gift or get a permit to buy a duty free car. Charity begins at home and how on earth was he to ensure better health at home without such perks. He will have to give a better life to those at home before doing it for the country. If he follows that axiom.

In other words, this "no perks for the jerks" policy could well backfire on the architects of such a scheme. Dark days lie head for Sri Lanka as hardly anyone in his or her senses would want to get into politics here. Who would after all want to go and talk through one’s hat without adequate reward for such an exercise.

When you come to think of it signing a contract where you promise to refrain from taking bribes or not benefitting from a contract is not a bad proposition. In other words you get into a good contract not to get into a bad contract. This was a pre-election proposal by a party that had made a study of the forms of corruption that were hauling us down the ravine of ruin.

Having satisfied itself that it has found the magic formula for stamping out corruption in the political life of the country. It has come out with two more remedies. There will be no duty free cars for MPs. In other words the new MP will be emasculated before getting into the arena. Death would be better than signing such a fateful contract.

Firstly they are asked not to take bribes or benefit from contracts given. Then they are told that they will not get duty free cars. Those who have already availed themselves of such permits must be saying "But for the grace of god there go I." They were spared from such a disaster in the nick of time. Other thoughts must surface as well.

But then what is a contract after all. Many an MP might find it difficult to supress a guffaw when signing such a contract. No one knows what the small print in it would be, but the average MP would not give a damn either. Proof is what would count and finding proof against an MP is not a very practical proposition.

The signing of a contract is one thing but enforcing is quite a different matter. No MP is, judging by their style and conduct strong believers in confessions. On the other hand, they value privacy and have prospered a great deal by doing so. So by and large, it may not be such a bad proposal after all. They may have to sacrifice the car permit but it may not be possible to have both.