In the recent past many of us have been discussing the need to have independent commissions to deal with matters involving governance.

The two of us have been among those who have asserted that Independent Commissions are a misnomer unless they are manned by truly independent men of unassailable integrity.

The absolute need to have men of such quality has been amply demonstrated in the removal of Mr. Rienzie Arsecularatne from the post of Director-General of the Bribery Commission. Evidently because he was not prepared to play ball with the highest in the land Mr. Arsecularatne has been removed from his post without even so much as on by-your-leave of the commissioners, two of whom have denied that they were consulted. They are also reported to have said that they had not asked for a full-time D. G.

So a successor to Mr. Rienzie Arsecularatne has been appointed by the President without consulting the commission, which it is mandatory for her to do under the Bribery Act.

We call upon the commissioners to resign and preserve their self-respect. That way they will be setting an example for all other public servants to fallow in the crucial days ahead.
Stanley Jayaweera
(Avadhi Lanka)
S. Thambiraja
(Udayan Foundation)