JVP slams Govt. over slow progress of corruption probes

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

– Our Lobby orrespondent

Opposition lawmaker JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake accused the Government of slowing the process followed to file action in relation to completed investigations by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). “It is clear that the number of investigations conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has gone down drastically. This could be due to the removal of the able Director General. She was removed to prevent action being taken against the crooks. It is the responsibility of the Government to appoint suitable people and fast-track the investigations of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, which is fuelled by public funds,” MP Rathnayake told Parliament yesterday, raising a supplementary question on the progress of the investigations.

From 2014-2016, CIABOC received 9,708 complaints. During the first six months of this year the Commission received 1,322 complaints.  However, according to the Government, in 2014, out of 1,999 cases the investigations were completed on, only 64 cases were filed for legal action. 

In 2015 out of 2,818 cases the investigations were completed on, only 107 were taken up for legal action. And in 2017, the figure was 87 out of 2,242 cases. Before the end of this year, the commission will not be able to finish investigations on 2,000 cases, said MP Rathnayake.

Assuring MP Rathnayake that steps would be taken to fast-track investigations, the Speaker stated that the Constitutional Council has approved the allocation of 50 additional employees to help with the investigations.