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Integrity Badges: CIABOC’s Prevention Strategy against Bribery and Corruption
A new anti-corruption programme targeting public servants will require them to wear Integrity Badges (IB) with catchy slogans such as “Come back home with clean hands”, “We are honest” etc., so as to discourage graft within the State sector. Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Sarath Jayamanna, P.C. said this is among many new initiatives to combat Bribery and Corruption in the country.
The IBs are to be worn while on duty and it is expected that, such displays will instill a moral inclination to abide by the integrity pledge. At the same time, all public servants will be required to enter into a pledge with their supervisors, which will consist of taking a pledge to perform efficiently and an integrity pledge which is expected to have a trickle-down effect through the public sector, ridding it of Bribery and Corruption.
Mr Jayamanna said the Law is not sufficient to enable a culture free from Bribery and Corruption and hence, having understood the importance of a Prevention Strategy for government institutions, has undertaken the task of introducing a Prevention Strategy for the public service, to ensure it is honest, transparent, and accountable.
“Many countries which were lagging behind Sri Lanka in their anti-corruption efforts, have become high ranking countries surpassing Sri Lanka on the global anti-corruption index, in the recent years. It has been observed that these countries have taken measures beyond merely enacting Laws to fight Bribery and Corruption,” he said. The Preventive Strategy will focus on identifying Bribery and Corruption, and assist these institutions to create their own solutions to the issues identified.
“Circulars and guidelines which allow for such practices should therefore, be updated/changed to prevent the occurrence of such practices. It is also useful to introduce Citizens’ Charters by each institution, containing clear and simple instructions on steps to be followed, requirements, tentative timeframes and, if applicable, relevant fees for each such service. These charters are to be publicly displayed and provided in printed form to the public. This includes maintaining updated and user-friendly websites which provide for online services, if possible,” he said.
He added that the overall impact sought by the introduction of a national Prevention Strategy is to foster attitudinal changes within the public sector and an environment which does not tolerate Bribery or Corruption.