Although Sri Lanka has been trying to fight corruption for nearly 50 years, corruption still occurs in Sri Lanka, according to the analytical evaluation report released by the International Monetary Fund on the 30th. (Sri Lanka Latest News)
The report states that the implementation of the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Law in 1975 provides evidence that Sri Lanka had long recognized the need to establish a legal framework to monitor the integrity of public officials.
According to the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, this report has been prepared to provide technical assistance to Sri Lanka based on the information obtained by the International Monetary Fund representatives who visited Sri Lanka last March. The report also includes 16 recommendations to be implemented to address the challenges that arise in governance. This report has shown many weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s financial control and management. This report has paid special attention to the extent of corruption in Sri Lanka and the measures taken so far in Sri Lanka and the measures to be taken in the future.
It has been stated in the report that the cost of constructing one kilometer of a highway in Sri Lanka is three times higher than the average cost of other countries in the world. Also, it has been stated in the report that there have been many problems related to corruption in government-owned enterprises. The report states that the problems related to governance and corruption have hampered the national and social well-being and recently there has been evidence that even if the top officials of the government commit destructive acts of corruption, they are not punished.
One of the recommendations included in the report is that an independent advisory committee consisting of anti-corruption experts should be appointed by next November to assist in submitting nominations for the appointment of a director-general and commissioners for the commission to be established to investigate allegations of bribery or corruption. Another recommendation is to publish assets of senior officials including the President, Prime Minister and Ministers by July next year on a designated website in relation to the Anti-Corruption Act.
Also, the report has recommended that laws should be introduced by December next year to conduct the public procurement process in accordance with international practices. Another recommendation included in the report is that the ministers should introduce new tax laws to change the tax amendments without the prior approval of the parliament and thus ensure that the government does not lose revenue due to the decisions of the ministers.
The International Monetary Fund’s report has shown that the Sri Lankan government’s expenditure limits set aside in the budget and the government’s inability to collect the estimated income from the budget is a major weakness in financial control. According to the report, when the executive branch of the government has the ability to spend beyond the budget limits, there is a risk of corruption in the country. The report also states that the authorities have identified the public procurement process as a weakness in governance.
The report shows that although more than 2000 officers work in the Inland Revenue and Sri Lanka Customs Departments, no charges of corruption have been filed against any official in the Inland Revenue Department in the past few years, but some officials have admitted that corruption is taking place in those departments.
In a study conducted in 2019 regarding corruption, more than one-third of the sample who participated in the study had direct experience of corruption, according to the report issued by the International Monetary Fund. Also, the report shows that more than 85 per cent of them said that corruption is common in the recruitment of government officials and the awarding of government contracts. The report shows that 36 per cent of those people have seen a government official involved in corruption and another 35 per cent have seen a member of parliament involved in corruption.
IMF The 16 conditions are as follows.
By November 2023, the establishment of an advisory committee made up of independent anti-corruption advisers.
Disclosure of asset declarations of senior officials (President, Prime Minister, Ministers and Ministers) by July 2024 on a selected website as per the Anti-Corruption Law.
ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW.
Amendment of the National Audit Act.
Finalize and implement rules for preparation of return information and public return ownership list required under the Companies Act.
Implementation of a national procurement law incorporating international best practices by December 2024.
Publish a report on the development of competitive tender procurement agreements on a website by December 2024.
Publication of all government procurement contracts above one billion rupees from March 2024, names of all companies entitled to tax breaks under the Board of Investment, amount of tax lost due to tax breaks, tax concessions received by companies on importing luxury vehicles on a website. This information should be updated once in 06 months.
Formulation of a Public Enterprise Reform Policy.
Suspension or stoppage of applications under the Strategic Development Projects Act pending transparency.
Ministerial without proper parliamentary approval
Amending the tax law.
Taking short-term anti-corruption measures in all revenue-collecting departments to prevent fraud and corruption.
Submission of a cabinet proposal by June 2024 to rescue the Employees’ Provident Fund from the direct management of the Central Bank.
Strengthening of rules and regulations for supervision of banking and financial sector.
By December 2024, opening an online digital land file and posting the information on a website.
Formulate and implement a plan for capacity building of the Judicial Service Commission to expand its resources and skills.
