Transparency and corruption in public service

The Role of the Public Utilities Commission in Combating Corruption

Admin March 19, 2021 559

Harindrini Corea The order for closure of the Public Utilities Commission on the 01st of December 2020 has raised concerns in the country. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka was incorporated by way of Act No.35 of 2002 which established the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) along

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

To be or not to be: Existential crisis during a pandemic

Admin March 18, 2021 541

Lilani Dias There is the individual- locked up inside the house and cannot go out unless authorized to do so. Food and other necessities are supplied (assuming this individual is lucky), and every move of the said individual is monitored. This may sound like a scene from George Orwell’s novel “1984”, or its movie adaptation- […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Right to information and the role of media – Part 1

Admin March 18, 2021 589

Jayasiri Jayasekara As Harold J. Laski stated, a nation that does not have access to the accurate information would be slaves of others one day. Accordingly, the right to information is the key to be free from slavery. This key was hidden in a secret chest until 2016 No. 12 Right to Information Act was […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Alleged Rights Denial of Corona Infected Sri Lankans in Dubai

Admin March 17, 2021 542

K.M. Razool Following the spread of the coronavirus, information on social networking sites, including Facebook, has become increasingly vocal about the plight of many Sri Lankans who are working in foreign countries and have no way to return home safely. On this basis, a large number of posts about distressed Sri Lankan workers in the […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Whither Sri Lanka? Where are we in the corruption indices?

Admin March 16, 2021 564

Ananda Dharmapriya Jayasekara The legal definition of corruption in Sri Lanka as per article 70 of Bribery Act of 1954 No. 11 amended by Act No. 20 of 1994 is as follows:  Any public servant who, with intent, to cause wrongful or unlawful loss to the Government, or to confer a wrongful or unlawful benefit, […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

20th amendment and the Right to Information

Admin March 16, 2021 552

Jagath Liyanaarachchi The twentieth amendment to the constitution of Sri Lanka was passed in the parliament on 22nd October 2020. The speaker set his signature and ratified the 20th amendment since 29th October 2020. The 20th amendment did not bring in any change to the Right to Information which was introduced by the 19th amendment. […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Both Democracy and Good Governance are like Oxygen

Admin March 16, 2021 608

Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe Democracy, good governance and modernity cannot be imported or exported to or from a country. -Emil Lahood (Former president in Lebanon) In present, there are many discussions over governance and good governance. Some politicians and media authorities use the word “good governance” to introduce the Sri Lankan government that prevailed from 2015

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Inquiry into the evolution of the executive presidency in Sri Lanka

Admin March 16, 2021 575

Sunimal Hettiarachchi Discussions are taking place again about the executive presidency at the time of the 24th death anniversary and 114th birth anniversary of Mr. J. R. Jayawardena who was the founder of the executive presidential system, the second republican constitution of 1978, and Sri Lanka’s first executive president. Except for one occasion after 1978 […]

Freedom of expression and fundamental rights Transparency and corruption in public service

Whither Sri Lanka? Where are we in the corruption indices?

Admin February 24, 2021 553

The legal definition of corruption in Sri Lanka as per article 70 of Bribery Act of 1954 No. 11 amended by Act No. 20 of 1994 is as follows:   Any public servant who, with intent, to cause wrongful or unlawful loss to the Government, or to confer a wrongful or unlawful benefit, favour or […]

Transparency and corruption in public service

Crisis of traditional political parties and the future of state-building discourse

Admin December 27, 2020 534

Sampath Deshapriya The two major political parties that ruled Sri Lanka from time to time, United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are reduuced to name boards and party headquarters. The main reasons for their plight are the decay of internal democracy, deviating from the party’s original aim and issues of the […]