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Presidential
candidates urged to launch anti-corruption drive
Transparency International Sri Lanka, the national chapter of the
global coalition against corruption, has presented the two main
presidential candidates what it called proposals for accountability
including trimming the size of the cabinet and a formal anti-corruption
drive.
TI
has sent open letters to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Leader
of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party,
giving details of what it called “five fundamental proposals
for accountability”.
It said it hopes that these principles would be incorporated into
the candidates’ election manifestos.
The
proposals are:
* Introducing merit based appointments to Statutory Corporations,
Boards and other key high posts, devoid of political patronage.
Sri Lanka has a track record of politically partisan appointments,
intended to pay back party supporters at each election. This has
resulted in colossal economic loss to the country while creating
indiscipline in public sector. Notwithstanding the 17th Amendment
to the Constitution, this practice continues.
* Commitment
to introduce a National Anti-Corruption Agenda
Sri Lanka does not have a clear national anti-corruption agenda.
Such agenda requires a strong political will to curb corruption
at all levels of governance. This includes strengthening anti corruption
institutions including the Bribery Commission and the Department
of the Auditor General, changing the anti corruption laws and initiating
zero tolerance on corruption from any sector.
Implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, introduction
of
freedom of information laws, rigorous enforcement of laws on declaration
of assets etc are basic minimums in the national agenda .
* Commitment
to make parliamentary oversight effective.
Parliament as the guardian of public finance does not have a transparent
finance committee system. Committee of Public Enterprises and Committee
of Public Accounts function in camera and without sufficient strength.
There is no budget committee to review the national budget nor is
there a participatory budgetary system. Strong Parliamentary oversight
is the need of the hour.
* Minimizing waste and extravaganza in public expenditure
Financial discipline in public sector has weakened considerably.
Waste of public resources continues unaddressed or insufficiently
addressed. Extravaganza by political authorities continues unabated.
* Trimming
down of Jumbo Cabinet.
The number of Cabinet Ministers are out of proportion to the Members
of Parliament causing an imbalance in executive accountability viz-a-viz
parliament.
Having
a large Cabinet has always created enormous difficulties to the
public and public sector functionaries as it has inherent difficulty
of identifying and allocating functions. It also incurs an unbearable
economic cost to Sri Lanka.
I hope that these principles would be incorporated into your Election
Manifesto which will undoubtedly be approved by the people at the
election. |
