Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has drawn the attention of Secretaries of all Ministries to ensure that adequate and proper arrangements are made for the safe custody and preservation of resources belonging to the government during the period of the provincial elections.
Quoting the Financial Regulation 128(1)(e), TISL has alerted them of their responsibilities in this respect both as the Secretary and Chief Accounting Officer of each Ministry.
Requesting the Secretaries to extend their highest cooperation in this regard, TISL has assured that TISL is ready to provide officials attached to the Ministry with free legal assistance if they are victimized for carrying out election related duties.
The letter states:
As the local chapter of the global movement against corruption committed to the promotion of good governance, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) will engage in election monitoring activities leading up to the forthcoming Provincial Council elections to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, TISL will monitor and investigate abuses of public property by political parties, candidates and other officials or public institutions while providing free legal assistance to citizens who report election violations and are victimized, as well as public officials who may be victimized for carrying out election duties legitimately.
TISL was engaged in election monitoring activities during the General Elections of 2001, 2004 and 2010 and the Presidential Elections in 2005 and 2010. This exercise exposed colossal losses of public funds as a result of large scale misuse of public resources.
We wish to draw your attention that as laid down in FR 128(1)(e), as the Secretary and Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry it is your responsibility to ensure that adequate and proper arrangements are made for the safe custody and preservation of resources belonging to the government. We kindly request you to extend your highest cooperation in this regard.
Please note that TISL is ready to provide you and the officials attached to the Ministry with free legal assistance if they are victimized for carrying out election related duties.