TISL rejects departure of activists

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) today rejected media reports that alleged several activists had left the organisation following controversies over financial transactions between the TISL and other entities.

Issuing a statement, TISL Executive Director Asoka Obeyesekere said the organisation has decided not to renew the contracts of some employees including a Senior Manager due to several factors. This, he said, has been misinterpreted in the reports as the employees having left TISL voluntarily.

“We further wish to state that certain employee contracts, such as the referenced Senior Manager’s, have not been renewed due to several factors, including the actions of employees done in bad faith and against core institutional values. This has been misrepresented in your article as TISL employees voluntarily leaving the organisation,” the organisation said.

TISL further assured that all transactions at the organisation are subject to institutional and project external audit processes.

Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration and Emigration is investigating into TISL, Senior Manager- Fundraising, Osk Sturludottir for working without a valid visa, the state-run Daily News reported.

Sturludottir, who was married to a Sri Lankan, was on a spousal visa and had no permission to work according to visa conditions, Department spokesman Deputy Controller Lakshan de Zoysa has told the Daily News.

Obeyesekere, however, has said that a person holding a spousal visa can work unless specifically mentioned not to do so, and the organisation was in full compliance of the law. (Colombo page)