Srilanka, June 3 -- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that the existing shadow system of stealing public funds will be dismantled and those involved in corruption will be severely dealt with irrespective of their status in the society.

"Can anyone justify stealing public funds after receiving their education through public money and drawing a salary funded by taxpayers?" the President queried.

He said that he is determined to end this menace and anyone unwilling to take on this responsibility is free to step aside.

"It is a deeper, networked problem. Pointing fingers at individual institutions will not solve it, because it is an interconnected system. Therefore, as a state apparatus, we must be fully prepared to deal w...