Sri Lanka and the fight against corruption

COLOMBO (News 1st) - President Maithripala Sirisena says his expectation is to make Sri Lanka the number one country in the world, in the fight against corruption. President Sirisena expressed these views during his address as the Chief Guest of the Global Expert Group Meeting on the Jakarta Principles in Colombo this morning (July 25). The Jakarta principles which aims to strengthen the effectiveness and the independence of anti-corruption authorities around the world were adopted in 2012. The three day Global Expert Group Meeting on the Jakarta Principles is currently underway in Colombo with the participation of anti-corruption authorities of 30 countries. A group including the Head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Candice Weisch and Program Manager of UNDP’s Global Anti-corruption Initiative Anga Timilsina took part in the meeting. President Sirisena also stated that there are many shortcomings in laws and regulations around the world when taking action against corruption. For example, many individuals and criminals from our country who are connected to serious fraud and corruption are in hiding overseas, said the President. The President also noted that when steps are taken to fight corruption, those engaged in corrupt activities band together inorder to fight against those cleaning up the system. Fmr. Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Abu Kassim bin Mohamed, and President's Counsel Sarath Jayamanne, the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption also spoke during the meeting held today.