MPs vulnerable to corruption: UNDP focuses on Parliament

...definition of 'terrorism' to be borrowed from Tanzania

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced plans to address the members of Parliament, and parliamentary staff, regarding this burning issue, whose victims are often the ordinary public when they go to obtain services from public intitutions.

The UNDP intends to launch the awareness programme in consultation with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar, on 29th May, sentenced former Sports Minister Aluthgamage to 20 years rigorous imprisonment, while ex-Trade Minister Nalin Fernando received a 25-year sentence. Both cases involved the importation of sports equipment by the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Ministers in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election.

UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota has declared their intention when she recently paid a courtesy call on Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne at the Parliament.

Director Legislative Services / Director Communication (Acting) M. Jayalath Perera, quoted Speaker Wickramaratne as having told Kubota that in line with the ongoing political transformation, several measures had already been taken against bribery and corruption.