Bribery Commission urges public officials to uphold integrity and conscience in service

Friday, 20 June 2025 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CIABOC Assistant Director General Thanuja Bandara at establishment of Internal Affairs Unit in Parliament underscores lasting institutional reform begins with individual responsibility
RTI Commission of Sri Lanka Commissioner Jagath Liyanarachchi states minimising corruption in public service can help Sri Lanka progress towards development similar to other advanced economies
Internal Affairs Unit Head and Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne calls everyone to work together through new unit to create transparent Parliament

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Assistant Director General Thanuja Bandara on Monday (16) made a strong call for ethical governance, adding that the cornerstone of building a clean and trustworthy public service lies in the personal integrity of each public official.

Addressing an awareness program held in Parliament to inform the staff of the Secretary General of Parliament on the responsibilities and expected goals of the Internal Affairs Unit, established under the 2025-2029 Anti-Corruption Action Plan, she stressed that combatting bribery and corruption requires officials to act in accordance with their conscience, consistently choosing what is right, even in the face of pressure or ambiguity.

Bandara underscored that lasting institutional reform begins with individual responsibility, calling on all State employees to serve with honesty, accountability, and a firm commitment to public interest.

In line with the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025-2029, recently introduced under the leadership of the President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the Presidential Secretariat issued a circular calling for the establishment of ‘Internal Affairs Units’ within State institutions and accordingly, this Unit was established.

While explaining the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act that pertain to bribery and corruption, she pointed out that the CIABOC has the authority to take legal action regarding various issues, such as corruption, bribery, illicit enrichment, and conflicts of interest.

The Head of the newly established Internal Affairs Unit in Parliament is Chaminda Kularatne, who is also the Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, while Dinesh Withana, who is the Chief Internal Auditor, will serve as the Integrity Officer of the new Unit.

In his address, Right to Information (RTI) Commission of Sri Lanka Commissioner Jagath Liyanarachchi stated that minimising corruption in the public service can help Sri Lanka progress towards development similar to other developed countries.

He emphasised that through the Internal Affairs Unit, a major role can be played in building an efficient, corruption-free public service by ensuring the integrity of public officials.

He further said that merely having the relevant laws and procedures in place is not enough for this process to work properly; there is a collective responsibility to ensure the effective functioning of the system.

Kularatne said that everyone must work together through this Unit to create a more transparent Parliament.

Officials, including all Department Heads of Parliament, participated in this awareness program.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.