The UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 31 October 2003, and entered into force upon ratification by thirty States on 14 December 2005. Today, a majority of United Nations Member States are parties to the Convention and Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to become a party to the Convention in March 2004. The Assembly also chosen 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to increase consciousness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in fighting and avoiding it.
In celebration of this year’s International Anti-corruption Day, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) organized the Inaugural Credentialing Ceremony of Integrity Officials on 9th December 2022 at the BMICH in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
As of 30.11.2022, the number of awareness programs conducted by the Corruption Prevention Unit for the government officers is more than 125. Among them more than 60 programs are for Divisional Secretariat Officials across the island.
As one step in the process of implementation of the National Action Plan, it is expected to work on this anti-corruption day to appoint integrity officers to the government institutions in order to comply with the Integrity hand book which was published along with the National Action Plan. Accordingly, one executive officer per office in the 60 Divisional Secretariats spread across the island will be given credentials as an Integrity Officer.
On the same day e-magazine” Integrity Portal” was launched by the CIABOC by the Director General, CIABOC.
To mark this special event, opening remark was delivered by the Honorable Commissioner III Mr Nimal Chandra Wakishta. A representative from the UNDP joined to deliver a strong message against corruption, reasserting their commitment to integrity and accountability. Two participants were delivered a speech concerning their responsibility to corruption free state. Honorable Commissioner I Eva Wanasundera, Commissioner II Deepali Wijesundera, Commissioner III Nimal Chandra Wakishta, Director General Damith Wijeratne, Secretaries and representative to the Ministries, District Secretaries participated in the celebration.
