Corruption Watch to monitor probes on corruption

 Saturday, 11 April 2015 

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has decided to launch of Corruption Watch to monitor the progress of corruption-related complaints that have been made to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Financial Fraud Investigation Division and the Crime Investigation Division.

So far complaints against alleged incidents of corruption have been made to the above mentioned institutions by the Voice Against Corruption, Anti-Corruption Front, Coalition against Corruption, the Special Presidential Commission against Corruption and the general public.

TISL said it will follow up with the institutions that are probing complaints and report to the public through weekly media briefings the number of complaints received, the number of investigations initiated and the progress that has been made.

Senior Manager of TISL Shan Wijetunga has said that there are so far 1,595 complaints lodged against several persons including MPs, their secretaries and heads of government organizations.

While commending the efforts made by the Government in addressing the allegations, TISL urged the authorities to expedite their investigations while maintaining the highest standards of transparency and due procedure.

TISL also stressed the need to strengthen the existing avenues for redress against corruption by making the necessary revisions to the Bribery Act and enhancing the CIABOC through resources and stronger mandate.

“The government should also be mindful of not appointing those alleged with corruption related charges to posts such as Ministers and Ministry Secretaries until they have been cleared of all charges,” the organization said.