Fight against organised corruption: President

By Chathuri Dissanayake

Strongly criticising state employees for what he referred to as an environment of “organised corruption” in the public service, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday slammed sections within the public service for operating “corruption rings” in some government departments.

 “We don’t speak of organised corruption. We speak of corrupt individuals or politicians but not organised operations. Even steps taken to stop those organised networks have been resisted, such as the trade union action of one department when CC TV cameras were set up,” he charged, addressing the National Anti-Corruption Conference in Colombo yesterday held parallel to the International Anti-Corruption Day.

President Maithripala Sirisena, Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne and MP M. A. Sumanthiran yesterday pledged to be free of bribery and corruption, at the National Summit on Anti-Corruption 2016

Renewing his earlier criticisms levelled at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABC), the President said institutions set up to investigate allegations of corruption  have also been used by those in power to control and direct politicians as they saw fit.

“I stand by the statement I made at the Sri Lanka Press Institute about investigations against corruption. I repeat what was said that day: There is still a need for unbiased conduct of the agencies involved in investigating corruption related cases,” Sirisena said.

In October, the President levelled severe criticism against the Bribery Commission, the CID and the FCID, implying that they were following a political agenda, which culminated in the resignation of the CIABC Director General.

Pointing out the unfair nature of conducting investigations on selectively targeted individuals, the President said neutrality and equality is expected from all the institutions established to enforce the law against bribery and corruption.

Calling for better management and action against corruption, Sirisena asked all the ministries, departments, corporations and statutory bodies to gather at least once every three months to discuss the methods and procedures that should be taken to prevent bribery, corruption and malpractices within their institutions.

“Don’t wait till circulars are sent or instructions are sent. Take the initiative to meet and take action,” he said.

President Sirisena also said that the Government’s ongoing action against corruption should not be taken as an excuse to not carry out one’s assigned duties and functions as public servants.

 “Not only Government Officials but also some politicians refrain from signing certain documents fearing that they might have to go before the FCID. If one fulfils his or her respective duties in a proper manner they should not be fearful in any way,” he said. 

Six bilateral MoUs to be signed during President’s Malaysia visit

Signing of six Memorandums of Understanding with the Malaysian Government was approved by the Cabinet this week.

The documents are to be signed during President Maithripala Sirisena’s official visit scheduled from 15-17 December.

Accordingly the delegation from Sri Lanka will sign Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation in tourism, cooperation in the field of trainings, researches, and public administration, cooperation in the field of cultural, arts and heritage and cooperation in the field of youth development during the visit.

Another MoU between the Agricultural Research Policy Council and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute is also scheduled to be signed. The Ministry of Plantation Industries in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities in Malaysia are also set to sign a MoU as proposed by Minister Harsha De Silva as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs.