Six presidential candidates sign up to promote transparency

• Representatives sign Letters of Intent at event by CAG

Six presidential candidates, including Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa, yesterday agreed to sign the Deed of Declaration and Deed of Trust to uphold transparency and accountability in their future governments, if elected.

The signing of the Letters of Intent was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, and was organised by Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) Lanka.

CAG Lanka, which is a non-partisan and non-profit apolitical professional organisation, has established its legal mechanism and accreditation concept to elect the most suitable candidates to govern the country and also to minimise corruption.

CAG Lanka was officially launched on 10 October and the mechanism was endorsed by many dignitaries, including the Public Trustee and the Director General of the Bribery Commission.

Signing the Letters of Intent were Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha as well as representatives of the UNP and National People’s Movement (NPM). Presidential candidates Dr. Rohan Pallewatta and Saman Perera were also signatories. All six candidates have assured that they, and the members of their respective political parties in future elections at Local, Provincial or Parliament levels, will ensure transparency, credibility and accountability when holding office.

CAG Lanka Executive Member Dr. Janaki Kuruppu said the SLPP candidate Rajapaksa, whose representatives were absent yesterday to sign the Letter of Intent, had fully endorsed the CAG mechanism and had verbally confirmed to sign the Deed of Declaration and Deed of Trust soon. 

Prof. Mahim Mendis signed the Letter of Intent on behalf of NDF candidate Premadasa, and Attorney-at-Law Chrishmal Warnasuriya signed it for NPM’s candidate General Mahesh Senanayake.

Founder of the Movement to Unite the Motherland Navin Gunaratne has also signed the letter, endorsing the CAG Lanka mechanism to uphold good governance and accountability.