Lecture for the officers of the consumer affairs authority on 13.01.2020 at defense services college, Colombo 2.

Two awareness programs for the officers of Farmers Organizations of Madatugama area and Galkiriyagana area were conducted from 9.00am to 12.00pm on 2019/12/26 and 2019/12/27 respectively at the Alagamuwa Block Office and Galkiriyagama Block Office of Mahaweli Authority. In these two programs, the responsibility of the civilians towards the anti corruption was emphasized while giving the awareness regarding the Bribery & Corruption. Another awareness program was conducted for the public officers of Mahaweli Authority in the area on 2019/12/26 from 1.00pm to 4.00pm at the Alagamuwa Block Office. In this session responsibility of the public servants to be prevented from Bribery & Corruption and the repercussions of being convicted for the bribery or corruption offence were pointed out while explaining the bribery & corruption law. The participants actively participated by asking questions and expressing their views in all these programs. These programs were organized by the Mahaweli Authority. Assistant Director Legal / Mr. Sakitha Wickramaratne and OIC Corruption iv branch/ Mr. U.P Wickramarachcchi were resource persons for the programs on behalf of CIABOC.

The dawn of 09th December 2019 was not just another day for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). It was a day full of potential, of hope, and of activism for the Commission in ensuring a culture imbued with values and honesty. A Public Outreach Campaign of vast magnitude was organized by the CIABOC on 9th December 2019, from 6.00a.m. to 7.00p.m., honouring the International Anti-Corruption Day. The vision behind the campaign was to uphold the collective responsibility of the state as well as of the public in eradicating bribery and corruption. This campaign was also in furtherance of Strategy B of the National Action Plan for Combatting Bribery and Corruption in Sri Lanka. Strategy B-“Value Based Education and Community Engagement”- foresees a renaissance of the social fabric of Sri Lanka through enhancing ethical values. As CIABOC is not only engaged in investigations and prosecution of bribery and corruption but also in prevention activities, we believe that bringing forth an ideological change in the public is the initial step in an anti-corruption journey of a thousand miles.

Introduction

Approximately $2 trillion are wasted on corruption in the world annually. This figure does not take into account consequences of corruption that are difficult to quantify, such as lost investments and a reduced tax base. It only factors in the amount paid as bribes. There were many countries in the world, especially in Asia, which were embroiled in corruption in the mid 1900’. These countries were much less developed than Sri Lanka was at the time and in fact held Sri Lanka as an example of what their systems should aspire to become. With a population density as less as 325 persons per square kilometre, Sri Lanka continues to enjoy abundance of space and of natural resources which have made us the envy of Asia. Many of these other nations were smaller, with much higher population densities to us, lacked natural resources, and struggled to cater to their expanding populations, which created breeding grounds for corruption to thrive in.

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CIABOC Awareness lecture and discussion with the Educational officials of Central Province under the Implementation of National Action Plan was conducted on 17th September at Chief Secretariat Office Kandy successfully.

The meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Legal Affairs (anti-corruption) and Media was held last Friday on 26th September 2019 at the Parliament to discuss the broad-based initiative of integrating anti-corruption studies into the into higher education curricula within the country to fight against bribery and corruption in a holistic manner. The Committee Meeting chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Jayampathy Wickramaratne was graced by many Higher Education Institutes in the country including the Universities of Colombo, Peradeniya, Jaffna, Sri Jayewardenepura, as well as the Open University of Sri Lanka and the National Police Academy.

CIABOC Awareness lecture and discussion with the public officials of Trincomalee District under Implementation of National Action Plan was conducted on 20th September at District Secretariat Trincomalee successfully. More than 120 public officials including Divisional Secretaries actively participated to the program which was conducted by Ms. Manodhi Hewawasam, Assistant Director Legal, SI J Kariappar, M S Mohomad Irfan, Harsha Madushanka & A D D K Amarathunga Authorized Investigators of the CIABOC.

CIABOC’s Education Sector Prevention Program held @ Trincomalee Wigneshwara Collegge on 20th of September 2019 8.30 am onwards.

CIABOC together with CaFFE Awareness to general public of Karainagarr Divisional Secretariat was held on 19th of September 2019 @ Karainagar DS office auditorium. Karainagarr Divisional Secretariat Mrs. Usha, Mr. S. M. Sabry (ADL), CaFFE Acting Executive Director Ahamaed Manaz Makeen, CaFFE Jaffna District Co odinator also Particpated. Mr. S. M. Sabry (ADL) CIABOC address the gathering “Towards integrity” Eradication of Bribery and Corruption and Mr. Ahamed Manaz also address the gathering with related to Election laws and regulations.

A prevention programme was held at Jaffna District Secretariat on 18.09.2019, specially focusing on Member of Local Government and public officials of Jaffna District Secretariat from 9.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. The programme was organized by CaFFE, Jaffna Assistant District Secretary Mrs. Krishanthi, CaFFE Executive Director Ahamed Manas Makeen and Assistant Director (Legal) Mr. S. M. Sabry (CIABOC), Jaffna District Election Commissioner Mr. Amal Raj, East West Management Mr. Mark and Mr. Indhika Perera AAL also took participated.

Public Sector Prevention Unit of CIABOC organized two programs for public servants of Mannar & Jaffna districts, regarding the eradication of Bribery & Corruption.
One program was held on 2019.09.05 at the auditorium of Mannar District Secretariat Office. Nearly 110 public servants such as Divisional Secretaries, Assistant Divisional Secretaries, Accountants, Development Officers, Grama Niladaries, Land Officers, Land Officers, Labour Officers and Samurdi Officers participated for the program. In this program, Mannar - Additional District Secretary : Mr Gunapalan delivered a speech about Bribery & Corruption in the public sector.