President Hard on Subject Ministers and Officials for Increasing Bribery Corruption & Fraud

When delivering  the key note address  at the inauguration of the   2016 National Summit  on anti corruption  held at  the hotel  Thaj Samuthra  yesterday,   President Maithripala Sirisena  said,   bribery and corruption is a major stumbling block when preparing  feasibility reports , environment  impact  assessment reports,  technical assessment report, tender procedures  and large scale development projects involving  billions  of rupees.  He said the officials in charge were working hand in gloves  with some of the parties to the contract  resulting  in bribery and corruption.

The President said,  nearly 50%  of the public institutions were engulfed in corruption, mismanagement and fraud, but when those crimes were exposed, the finger was pointed at the Subject Ministers.  Society talks so often   crimes,  rapes, robberies , bribery and corruption committed by politicians and public officials. But a debate on organized bribery and corruption was only a whimper despite the fact that bribery and corruption had a  cancerous effect on the daily life of people.

 Further he said,  that  there is a new  trend among public officials to refuse to  place their signature to approve funds for Government function quoting  that  they may be summoned by the FCID, the PRECIFAC or even the CID. This is a misconception no official must be afraid to do what is right. An experienced official should know what is right and what violates FRs and ARs, he concluded.