The outgoing President of the world's largest Democracy, India, has spoken words of wisdom, which the majority of our politicians should take to heart. He has said "don’t take gifts that come with a purpose and build families with character and a good value system."

Our country is poor and small. Our economy is buttressed by massive foreign loans. To most of us, small is not beautiful but ugly. Most of our law makers do not live simple life-styles. They want to travel in huge vehicles unlike their counterparts in neighbouring India. Their greed for power and wealth while in power and out of office is limitless. President Abdul Kalam said that he will leave the Presidential Palace with "two small suitcases". What a contrast to Sri Lanka where valuables were spirited away a few years ago. Such unpatriotic sham people bring shame to our country.