Organization of Professional Associations

Let us remind ourselves of ethical values we are enjoined to uphold - H. L. de Silva, PC

Address by chief guest H. L. de Silva PC at the induction of Elmore Perera as President of the OPA held on October 27 at the BMICH.

Moral integrity in public life

“I am indeed privileged and honoured to be the chief guest at the induction of Elmore Perera as the new President of the Organisation of Professional Associations, which is perhaps one of the most prestigious and vibrant non-governmental organisations and opinion-makers in the country.

I am particularly happy to be associated with this event because I have long been associated with Elmore as a lawyer and have known him to be one who upholds high standards of professional conduct, despite the fact that he does not always accept conventional behavioral styles unquestioningly which sometimes tends to generate controversy.

He belongs to that dwindling number of those schooled in the traditions built in an earlier epoch at Richmond

The annual OPA sessions were held recently. Here Chief Guest Justice Mark Fernando P.C., Ariyaseela Wickramanayake, US Ambassador Robert O’ Blake and Archt. V.N.C. Gunasekera being conducted in procession to the venue.

President Elect, Ariyaseela Wickramanayake, and U.H. PalihakkaraOPA President Dr. Hilary W.M. Cooray, delivering the welcome address. The others at the Head Table are Calyanatissa Gunawardena, Gen. Gerry de Silva, Archit. V.N.C. Gunasekera, Justice Mark Fernando, US Ambassador Robert O’Blake and Elmore Perera.

 College, Galle, by those great Methodist educationists - James Darrel and W. G. T. Small in the last century indeed, I must congratulate the OPA on its choice of Elmore as President because his unswerving and uncompromising commitment to the truth is not a trait of character that often guarantees success at a popular election.

I am reminded here of the Sinhala folk saying ‘Aththa kiyana minihata thabarumeth ida nehalu’, which roughly translated means: “it is said that for the man who is always speaking the truth, there is no place even in the tavern!” By electing Elmore, the OPA seems to have cast doubt on this folk wisdom which is a heartening prospect.”

“Having regard to the prevalent sense of disillusionment and despair at the visible decline of moral standards and ethical values in contemporary public life in Sri Lanka, I think it would be timely to remind ourselves of the ethical values which we are enjoined to uphold and consider some of the complex problems that arise in their practical application in our day-to-day lives.

I wish therefore to place before you some thoughts on the subject of moral integrity in public life, especially in politics, because politicians whom we periodically elect, to represent us at the highest levels both here and abroad, are a microcosm of the nation and its values.

They need to be reminded of the trust and responsibility we have placed on them and the exemplary standards expected of them,” de Silva said.

Many of us are no doubt familiar with Lord Acton’s famous epigram: “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Yet many have seldom paid attention (even if they be aware of it) to what Acton said in the very next line of his lecture, which surprisingly enough, was: ‘Great men are almost always bad men’. Considering the fate and fortunes of many public men in history - past and present - there would be many who would not be inclined to disagree with Acton.

This observation seems to me to be a serious indictment on our sense of values in the estimation of greatness in a leader, which appear to place a low value on moral integrity. Does it means that the world which at the same time accords ‘greatness’ to such men does not find any incompatibility or inconsistency between ‘greatness’, ‘wickedness’ or ‘corruption’?

Do we tend to overlook and tolerate such serious defects of character and lack of probity in personal conduct in our estimation of greatness? In making such overly generous allowances for these weaknesses do we not place little value on moral integrity while apparently admiring the possession of the baubles of power, prestige and authority?

If that were so it would indeed be a sad commentary on our own sense of values and sense of judgement and a reflection on the poor quality of our own moral life.

Or is it simply a hard headed conclusion drawn from a view of politics as it operates in practice in most parts of the world, sometimes subsumed under the term ‘realism’ recognising it as being the overriding force in politics which permits only a limited scope for ‘idealism’.

While I do not accept any relativist theory or moral principles, I think there is space for the judicious application of a wise discretion in exceptional situations.

But whatever be the underlying reasons for this dismal view, I do not think any right-minded person would tolerate or condone gross misconduct or grave depravities in behaviour for long, because in our experience many powerful men in the world holding high office have, often quite unexpectedly, been brought down from their pedestals of power and prestige by a fortuitous discovery that they have been guilty of dishonourable conduct which shocks our conscience and deems them unfit to hold high office.

So Lord Acton’s dictum that most great men are almost always bad men holds true only to the extent that their reputation to greatness subsists tenuously, only so long as their infamy remains undiscovered.

They are held in high esteem only so long as the true facts remain a closely guarded secret. Their discovery leads us to a feeling of revulsion and betrayal and a sense of deep disappointment, as we contemplate their ultimate denigration and disappearance from the Halls of Fame.”

“What enables their reputations to avoid scrutiny enabling them to survive is the veil of hypocrisy behind which the truth is often hidden. The veil of hypocrisy seems to serve a useful function, though not by any means a laudable purpose, for designing individuals who have ambitions to fame.

No public man can while in office admit to serious defects of character or hold himself out as a person who is dishonest, untruthful, corrupt and unprincipled, flaunt his lack of moral character and yet hope to win public approbation and acclaim.

Hypocrisy is undeniably an essential device for those with political ambitions. It has enabled many who are undeserving to scale the Olympian heights even for a while until the truth is finally discovered.

But when that happens it would seem to be an even more grievous failure than the original fault and transgression, because then to corruption must be added the vices of falsehood and deception.”

“I am afraid the law to some extent helps in this deception. As in the case of persons accused of offences, there is generally a presumption of innocence and good character in the case of public men.

The law of libel or defamation both civil and criminal, protects the reputation of a private individual from imputations that may be made, however true they may be, so long as he is not a public figure and does not seek public approval.

A person who does not have such ambitions or is already not a figure in high profile, has rights of privacy until his reputation is brought into the public domain.

He is presumed to be a man of probity and sound moral character until he is shown to be unworthy of respect. So Lord Acton’s apparently outrageous statement that most great men are bad men may well be true because their hypocrisy is seldom exposed, at least in their lifetime, as the law of libel protects them as they bask in glory before an admiring public which somehow feels the need for role models and heroic figures to inspire them and give meaning to life.

We are held captive to this masquerade and grand delusion while it lasts,” he said.

“The existing rules which control election to representative institutions at the different levels of Government or even appointment to high office through the current processes of selection seem woefully inadequate to ensure men and women of the desired quality and calibre are duly chosen.

We have had more than half a century of free education, provided for greater opportunities for economic advancement and upward social mobility - but the qualifications for entry into these important bodies of decision making and the assumption of high office do not ensure the choice of the brightest and the best, and those with an unblemished character.

The sovereign people - the electors are not assured of a reliable mechanism within political parties that excludes dubious and disreputable characters from among the candidates.

Since most political parties seem to maintain a conspiracy of silence concerning the credentials of their candidates for high office, should not there be a public inquisition to determine their fitness prior to the electoral process or their appointment, at which they are called upon to make a public disclosure of their personal life, including their financial interests?

How is it possible that persons who are invested with such enormous powers and responsibility - the power to make decisions not only over day-to-day concerns of everyday life, but over matters which vitally affect the future of our lives, indeed the future of generations to come and the destiny of the whole country come to be chosen through such a flawed process?

Many of them come to be so empowered without a proper scrutiny of their competence and moral fitness. As it is, politicians have no rules of admission to the profession, if indeed this occupation which today resembles more a trade or business can be called a profession.

There are no well defined rules of ethical conduct or standards of fitness to which they must conform. And the astonishing truth is that it is they who make the most vital decisions in our national life.

The prospect of advancement and holding of office is largely dependent on idiosyncratic decisions of the party leadership and the vicissitudes of politics and many extraneous factors.

It has been said that while we delude ourselves into thinking that we live in a functioning democracy, in truth we are the victims of an elected dictatorship, after the election is over”.

“It is not suggested that reforms in the process of selection and canons of conduct to which they must conform would necessarily bring about the desired improvement in moral standards. But it is a mechanism that would in some measure contribute to that end.

It is at least likely to raise the level of integrity in public life and make it less an occasion for scandal and may induce a sense of public outrage instead of acquiescence and apathy when there are flagrant breaches of these norms.

But the paramount need and the elementary duty is to enforce the law even with its present limitations regardless of political affiliations and free from political interference.

This all too frequent tendency to bypass the law or bend the rules is a complaint that is often heard. Such interference with the process of law enforcement undermines the entire system of law and order, infringes the fundamental right to equality and the equal protection of the law which lies at the heart of the Rule of Law”.

“So, if we are to contend with this disturbing trend of the debasement and criminalisation of politics, that is increasingly evident in our part of the world, we need to have an effective mechanism to exclude those prone to such conduct from the political arena, if the whole democratic system is not to be endangered.

Secondly, the task of law enforcement and the maintenance of law and order, which after all is the first and most important task of those who are called upon to

To be continued

OPA Office Bearers for 2007-2008

Elmore M. Perera - President

Eng. U. G. Bulumulla - President Elect

Archt. L. T. Kiringoda - General Secretary

Bandula Sirimanne - Treasurer

Eng. Tudor Munasinghe - Vice President

Maj. Gen. T. Sivashanmugam USP - Vice President

B. K. Ulluwishewa - Vice President

Eng. S. T. Perera - Vice President

U. H. Palihakkara - Vice President

Dr. S. R. Ratnapala - Vice President

Noel Wijesiriwardena - Vice President

Saman P. Rajapakse - Vice President

S. L. H. Vithanachchi - Vice President

Dr. Hilary W. M. Cooray - Immediate Past President

Eng. D. D. S. Jayawardena - Editor

B. S. Wimalasundara - Asst. Secretary

T. D. W. P. Perera - Asst. Secretary

Siri Channa S. Kumara Muthukuda - Asst. Secretary

L. Lasantha S. Wickremasinghe - Asst. Treasurer – OPA

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