Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has requested Opposition MPs to form a Coalition against Corruption to tackle the emerging threat which will affect the entire nation.
The request was made when TISL, along with Coalition against Corruption (CAC), met with Opposition MPs last Tuesday. MP’s led by United National Party leadership council chairman Karu Jayasuriya were present.
Coalition against Corruption handed over details of cases of incidents of corruption in government departments, corporations and other state institutions. Copies were also handed over to the office of the COPE, the parliamentary committee overseeing wastage and corruption in government instituions.
Parliamentarians Lakshman Kirriella, Rvi Karunanayake, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Rosy Senanayake and Eran Wickremarathna took part in the discussion. Joint conveners of the coalition Saman Rathnapriya, Josep Stalin and Thilak Kariyawasam along with other CAC members and TISL representatives were present at the meeting.
Opposition members requested CAC to send information on corruption and frauds for them to take them up at parliamentary sittings. They said they will take up the issues at COPE meetings too.
Members appreciated and thanked TISL and CAC for their continued struggle to free the country from corruption.
TISL representatives pointed out that Sri Lanka is going down in the corruption ratings and according to the latest Global Corruption Perception Index Sri Lanka was placed 92 among the 182 countries surveyed. Sri Lanka has fallen down 12 places compared to the 2012 report.
Hence, they pointed out the importance of Members of Parliament to play a crucial role to minimize corruption. They requested them to form an alliance with other party members in parliament to challenge corruption as one unit.