Keynote address on Human rights Day from Dilrukshi
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A seminar organized by Intellectuals for Human Rights (IHR) on behalf of the Human Rights Day was held at Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute yesterday (11th).
Deputy Minister of State Enterprises Development Iran Wickremeratne, the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath participated while the keynote address was delivered by former Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ms. Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe.
Deputy Minister of State Enterprises Development Iran Wickremeratne, the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath participated while the keynote address was delivered by former Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ms. Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe.
Ms. Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe emphasized that frauds and corruption could never be eliminated without political backing. She said eliminating frauds and corruption is a duty of the people as well. She emphasized that the existing legal provisions are capable of eliminating frauds and corruption and added that introducing the subject of eliminating fraud and corruption to school text books and the degree in universities is a victory Sri Lankans have gained. She said the proposal she made at an international summit on eliminating fraud and corruption before she resigned from her position of Director General in CIABOC gained the international approval and at present measures are being taken to include it in school curricular.
Despite her resigning from the position of Director General of CIABOC, as a citizen of Sri Lanka she would always come forward in matters that are connected to eliminating fraud and corruption said former Director General of CIABOC.
Deputy Minister Iran Wickremeratne addressing the seminar said the majority of professionals who have joined politics is from legal profession. He said he entered politics from the private sector and his attitude regarding politics and frauds and corruption is different. He said he worked in an international bank before he joined politics, was the Chairman of National Development Bank and added that he followed a policy of eliminating fraud and corruption.
Deputy Minister Iran Wickremeratne addressing the seminar said the majority of professionals who have joined politics is from legal profession. He said he entered politics from the private sector and his attitude regarding politics and frauds and corruption is different. He said he worked in an international bank before he joined politics, was the Chairman of National Development Bank and added that he followed a policy of eliminating fraud and corruption.
The ‘hamper’ given as a ‘gift’ several years ago was only worth about Rs.15,000 then but has gone up at present to about Rs.150,000 and has become the most common way of giving a bribe.
Fraud and corruption is a serious issue in Sri Lanka said Mr. Iran Wickremeratne and most instances of frauds and corruption occur in instances of government buying and methodology should be adopted to eliminate this he added. He said the outdated processes in Sri Lanka has created more opportunities for committing frauds and corruption and added that new technology and transparent methodology that could be utilized to probe issues in a short time could minimize opportunities for frauds, bribe taking and corruption.
The Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath addressing the seminar said social, economic, cultural rights and civil and political rights are identified as human rights. He said despite social, economic and cultural rights are the most violated, what is most discussed are the violations of civil and political rights.
He said owning a house is a socio-economic right but most of the downtrodden people have been denied this right which is a serious human rights violation he pointed out. He said the rights of Muslim women and children are being violated due to the Muslim law and cultural right is being violated due to child marriages. Despite Muslim women act against this violation, they are being severely harassed and it remains as a tragedy pointed out Mr. Herath.
He said owning a house is a socio-economic right but most of the downtrodden people have been denied this right which is a serious human rights violation he pointed out. He said the rights of Muslim women and children are being violated due to the Muslim law and cultural right is being violated due to child marriages. Despite Muslim women act against this violation, they are being severely harassed and it remains as a tragedy pointed out Mr. Herath.
Mr. Herath emphasized that the mandate for the present government was to act against fraud and corruption and take legal action against fraudsters and the corrupt. However, the government has completely ignored the mandate as the present rulers do not have any interest to eliminate fraud and corruption. He said honest officials who act according to the mandate received are being harassed and are being punished he pointed out.
Chief Executive of IHR the head of the faculty of Social Science in Ruhunu University Upali Pannilage, former General Secretary of IHR Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Moratuwa University Prof. Rahula Athalage also participated. The annual report of human rights violations in Sri Lanka and the ‘Right’ magazine were launched.
