The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced plans to address the members of Parliament, and parliamentary staff, regarding this burning issue, whose victims are often the ordinary public when they go to obtain services from public intitutions.
The UNDP intends to launch the awareness programme in consultation with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar, on 29th May, sentenced former Sports Minister Aluthgamage to 20 years rigorous imprisonment, while ex-Trade Minister Nalin Fernando received a 25-year sentence. Both cases involved the importation of sports equipment by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Ministers in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election.
UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota has declared their intention when she recently paid a courtesy call on Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne at the Parliament.
Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) M. Jayalath Perera, quoted Speaker Wickramaratne as having told Kubota that in line with the ongoing political transformation, several measures had already been taken against bribery and corruption.
The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) holds 2/3 power in Parliament, with 159 members, the vast majority of them being first time entrants to parliamentary politics. The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) consists of 40 MPs.
Former General Secretary of the Communist Party, Dew Gunasekera, told The Island that UNDP’s intervention meant what the international community thought of our Parliament, responsible for ensuring financial discipline and enactment of new laws.
The ex-Minister pointed out that the growing number of cases, involving politicians at investigation level and pending in different courts, underscored the gravity of the situation. Some of the high profile cases that had attracted public attention involved former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella (money laundering and procurement of life-saving human immunoglobulin contaminated with deadly bacteria and vital cancer medication, Rituximab, that happened to contain saline), sitting MP Namal Rajapaksa (Krrish case, pertained to alleged misappropriation of Rs 70 mn), former Minister Mervyn Silva (indicted over alleged possession of undisclosed cash and assets exceeding Rs. 800 mn), sitting MP Chamara Sampath Dissanayake (commission of acts of corruption by requesting sponsorships from three state banks for Uva Provincial Council projects and crediting the funds into an account of a foundation operated in his name when he was the Chief Minister of Uva Province), former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera and ex-Minister Mervyn Silva are implicated in selling governemnt property through fraudulent means.
Meanwhile, in accordance with the Presidential secretariat directive issued on 18 February, the Parliament has established an ‘internal affairs unit,’ in line with the 2025-2029 anti-corruption plan.
According to Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) the key objectives for the newly set up unit were prevention of corruption, promotion of a culture of integrity, ensuring accountability and transparency in all institutional operations, and guaranteeing public access to information related to parliamentary activities and decisions.
Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, has been appointed as the Head of the Internal Affairs Unit, while W.K.D.C. Vithana has been designated as the Integrity Officer.
Ms. Thanuja Bandara, Assistant Director General of CIABOC and Attorney-at-Law Jagath Liyanarachchi, Commissioner of the Right to Information Commission of Sri Lanka, recently emphasised the responsibility on their part to achieve anti-corruption targets.
Former top parliamentary administrator Lacille de Silva said that tangible measures were needed to be taken to end the culture of impunity. If those genuinely interested in tackling waste, corruption, irregularities and malpractices perused Auditor General’s reports along with that of parliamentary watchdog committees, those responsible for the current crisis could be easily identified, he said.
By Shamindra Ferdinando