A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) titled ‘Governance Diagnostic Assessment’ revealing rampant state corruption in Sri Lanka was tabled in parliament by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday.
“The report is deeply embarrassing for our country, as it highlights that corruption permeates numerous state agencies from the highest to the lowest levels,” he remarked.
The MP pointed out that the Government’s lack of action against fraud and corruption was cited as one of the reasons for the delay in the release of the second instalment of financial assistance by the IMF.
“As a consequence of misleading the IMF and the public in previous dealings with the organisation, Sri Lanka is now compelled to accept the harsh remedies,” he emphasised. The MP added that the IMF document discloses that it has proposed 16 recommendations to the Sri Lankan Government.
Among them, the IMF has proposed the setting up of an independent anti-corruption advisory committee to propose nominees for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the setting up of a website featuring asset declarations of senior government officials including the President, Prime Minister and Government Ministers.
“The report reveals that to date only 12 MPs in parliament have published their asset declarations,” he noted.
Other recommendations included the introduction of a procurement law of international standards, publishing a report on developing competitive procurement agreements on a website and publishing of information related to tax breaks on yet another website.(FT)
