TISL requests MPs to form Alliance against Corruption

Saturday, 23 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has requested Members of the Parliament to form a Coalition against Corruption to tackle emerging threats. The request was made when TISL, along with Coalition against Corruption (CAC), met with Opposition MPs last Tuesday. MPs led by United National Party Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya were present.

The Coalition against Corruption handed over details of cases of incidents of corruption in Government departments, corporations and other State institutions. Copies were also handed over to the office of the COPE, the Parliamentary committee overseeing wastage and corruption in Government institutions. Parliamentarians Lakshman Kiriella, Ravi Karunanayake, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Rosy Senanayake and Eran Wickramaratne took part in the discussion. Joint conveners of the coalition Saman Rathnapriya, Joseph Stalin and Thilak Kariyawasam along with other CAC members and TISL representatives were present at the meeting. Opposition members requested CAC to send information on corruption and fraud for them to take them up at Parliamentary sittings. They said they will take up the issues at COPE meetings too. Members appreciated and thanked TISL and CAC for their continued struggle to free the country from corruption. TISL representatives pointed out that Sri Lanka is going down in the corruption ratings and according to the latest Global Corruption Perception Index Sri Lanka was placed 92 among the 182 countries surveyed. Sri Lanka has fallen down 12 places compared to the 2012 report. Hence, they pointed out the importance of Members of Parliament to play a crucial role to minimise corruption. They requested them to form an alliance with other party members in parliament to challenge corruption as one unit.