Swift conclusions to corruption trials needed: President

Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Sarath Jayamanne PC hands over the National Action Plan for Combating Bribery and Corruption to President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya looks on

• Calls for all stakeholders to joint anti-corruption battle at launch of national action plan

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that even though there was a clear policy for combating corruption, law enforcement still remained problematic, acknowledging that swift conclusion to corruption cases was also needed.  

Speaking at the ceremony to launch a national action plan for combating bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka, President Sirisena said that the biggest challenge to good governance was corruption, and that it was the responsibility of all stakeholders to join the fight against corruption. 

“I have taken on this responsibility since I became President. The Presidential Commissions that I have appointed have been more transparent than any that have come before, and has increased the public confidence in the use of Commissions as a tool to fight corruption,” he said. 

The President also said that he would continue to work against corruption, insisting that the State had a significant role to play in combating the menace. He also commended public servants, especially investigators, for working to uncover illegal transactions and activities.   

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) was entrusted with the task of formulating a National Action Plan for Combating Bribery and Corruption in Sri Lanka.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, along with the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Public Administration, brought together all relevant stakeholder institutions to gather and collate the opinions/suggestions of the public. 

As such, 50 consultations have been carried out throughout Sri Lanka, which concluded with 4 such meetings being held at the Parliament. Public representatives were given an opportunity to share their ideas. Furthermore, this endeavour includes the input of various sectors, including State officials, professionals, civil societies and artistes. The collation of all these suggestions and recommendations have contributed to the formulation of the National Action Plan for Combating Bribery and Corruption in Sri Lanka, which received Cabinet approval on 5 February. 

The Action Plan is based on four strategies for combating bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka. They are, namely: prevention measures, value-based education and community engagement, institutional strengthening of CIABOC and other law enforcement agencies, and law and policy reforms.

Additionally, four handbooks will be released alongside the Action Plan, exploring decisive factors which would shape the course of combating bribery and corruption in the nation. They would cover the topics of: draft proposal on Gift Rules, draft proposal on Conflict of Interest Rules, integrity handbook for State officials, and law amendment proposal for areas of bribery, asset declaration, Commission Act, election campaign finance, and whistleblower provision.