Chandra J writes open letter on effective intermediation by Ombudsman

Monday, 26 September 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Good governance activist Chandra Jayaratne has written an Open Letter to The President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament and Members of the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reforms on delivering good governance and assuring national reconciliation through the efficient and effective intermediation of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman). The letter has been copied to Chairperson, Office of National Unity and Reconciliation, Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) as well. Following are excerpts:

Article 156 in Chapter XIX of the Constitution refers to the Parliament establishing the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) charged with the duty of investigating and reporting upon complaints or allegations of the infringement of fundamental rights and other injustices by public officers and officers of public corporations, local authorities and other like institutions in accordance with the provisions of such law.

It is recommended that the constitutional reforms, currently being considered by the Steering Committee of Parliament on Constitutional Reforms, take cognizance of the desirability of expanding the scope and terms of reference of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman),as set out in the aforesaid Article, to include the following complaints or allegations of the infringements and other injustices by public officers and officers of public corporations, local authorities and other like institutions;

1.failure to carry out with due care, on a timely basis, with efficiency, effectiveness, extending essential courtesy, the duly assigned duty of office and /or any designated tasks of office or valid instructions of a superior; and,

2.failure to act in compliance with any duly authorised administrative or financial regulations or duly authorised circulars of the government ; and

3.failure to observe and adhere to any duly adopted code of ethics and conduct, and /or governance; and

4.failure directly or indirectly to safeguard and protect the environment and ecology and natural and national resources of the State; and

5.being directly or indirectly engaged , involved or associated with promoting ethno-religious disharmony, socio- cultural disharmony, engaging in acts damaging national reconciliation, engaging in any actions hurting ethno-religious sentiments of society or promoting or assisting in spreading false information, misrepresentation or engaging in hate speech or engaging in any acts damaging national ethno religious harmony and sentiments: