TISL launches Corruption Watch

Friday, 10 April 2015 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: Corruption Watch Programme Manager Ananda Jayasekara, Corruption Watch Programme Manager Nauli Wimalarathne, Corruption Watch Programme Senor Manager Shan Wijethunga, Corruption Watch Programme Manager Sashi De Mel, Senior Manager (research) Shantha Kulathunga - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara Transparency International Sri Lanka, the local chapter of the global movement against corruption, has announced the launch of Corruption Watch. The Corruption Watch will monitor the progress of corruption-related complaints that have been made to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Financial Fraud Investigation Division (FFID) and the Crime Investigation Division (CID) by the Dushana Virodhi Handa, Dushana Virodhi Peramuna, Coalition against Corruption, the Special Presidential Commission against Corruption and the general public. TISL will follow up with the above mentioned institutions that are carrying out investigations and report to the public through weekly media briefings the number of complaints received, the number of investigations initiated and the progress that is being made. Senior Manager of TISL Shan Wijetunga said that by yesterday 1,595 complaints had been lodged against several persons including MPs, their secretaries and heads of government organisations. However, the number of cases which had been processed amounted to about 40% of the total. The Bribery and Corruption Commission had received 1,499 complaints as of 7 April and out of them only 367 were being acted upon now. He said that several anti-corruption organisations such as the Voice against Corruption (VAC) – JVP and Anti- Corruption Movement (ACM) – JHU were identifying controversial cases and providing evidence for the authorities concerned to investigate complaints. TISL also conducted a perception survey covering all districts in the island to assess the perception of the people regarding the progress made in the first 50 days of the Government’s 100-day program. Accordingly, 62% of the respondents stated that the Government’s handling of corruption failed to meet their expectations, 32% of respondents said that they were somewhat satisfied with the Government’s actions against corruption while only 6% found them satisfactory. When asked about their views over the efforts the Government had made to strengthen anti-corruption agencies and mechanisms, 48% responded that they were ‘moderately satisfied’. However, 43% stated that they could not be satisfied with the efforts made. Only 9% claimed that they were satisfied with the efforts made. TISL called upon the Government to follow due procedure and expedite investigations while honouring the principles of transparency. They said that it was important to strengthen anti-corruption laws and mechanisms to conform with the UNCAC as well.