Sri Lanka, Sept. 24 -- A picture caption in this newspaper, two weeks ago, showing Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge distributing compensation to family members of road accident victims would be funny if not for the tragedy involved. The caption showed the Minister handing over a cash cheque to one such family member as a token where Rs. 4 million were disbursed among 32 persons who lost a member of a family or for serious injury in hit and run accidents during the year 2019.

Why is the Government paying compensation to family members of accident victims from public funds one may be constrained to ask when this ought to be done by the offenders themselves, providing the culprits are arrested. After all, aren't these public funds collected...