• Last Update 2024-03-29 16:58:00

Global anti-corruption agency urges Lankans to vote wisely

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Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) urged the public here to vote differently and wisely in the upcoming elections.

“TISL urges citizens to resist corruption and uphold personal integrity at all times, adopting a zero-tolerance policy to corruption in workplaces and businesses, fulfilling civic responsibilities, using the right to information, participating in governance, keep demanding critical reforms and voting differently and wisely at the upcoming elections.”

The statement comes at a time when Sri Lanka’s score in the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) stands at 36 out of 100, one point lower than the previous year.

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is compiled by Transparency International (TI) and scores 180 countries and territories around the world based on perceptions of public sector corruption. 

The CPI uses a scale from 0 to 100, whereby 100 is considered very clean and 0 is considered highly corrupt. 

Sri Lanka ranks at 101 in 2022, along with Panama, Albania, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Ecuador, Peru and Thailand.

TISL noted  that Sri Lanka too demonstrated lack of progress in terms of resisting corruption, coupled with suppression of civil society, culminating from a lack of political will to change the system, even amidst the crippling effects of kleptocracy on the country’s economy and on the quality of life of citizens.

TISL urged the Government to recall how Sri Lankans of all walks of life came together in protest against those who were responsible for the bankruptcy of the nation, understanding the very close connection between corruption, poor governance, the country’s economy and their day-to-day lives.

“The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on which the Government is depending to resuscitate the fallen economy, also emphasized the need to reduce corruption vulnerabilities, by improving fiscal transparency, public financial management and a stronger anti-corruption legal framework,” the anti-corruption body said.

“While the Government is in critical need to attract foreign investments, tourism and other income generation methods along with debt restructuring, foreign aid and other support from th international community to be able to secure the essentials for the people, it is paramount that the trust in the Government, the legislature and the public sector be restored within and outside of Sri Lanka,” the statement said.   

TISL also recalled the essential anti-corruption reforms that it urged the Government to implement to revive the economy, none of which stand implemented as at this day.

“TISL reiterates that strengthening the parliamentary oversight on public finance, ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement, de-politicizing the public sector, auditing and reviewing the State-owned Enterprises and strengthening law enforcement are some examples of critical and urgent action that are necessary if Sri Lankans are to fight corruption and usher in a true system change,” it said.

TISL also called on the public to pioneer the cultural change that is essential for a system change. 

The top countries on the Index are Denmark (90), Finland (87) and New Zealand (87) while South Sudan (13), Syria (13) and Somalia (12) remain at the bottom of the CPI in 2022.

 

 
 
 
 
 

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