News
Parliament staff briefed on anti-corruption drive
Assistant Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Thanuja Bandara, and Commissioner of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, Attorney-at-Law Jagath Liyanarachchi, on Monday (16), briefed parliamentary staff on their responsibility to fight corruption.
The Parliament, in a statement issued yesterday, quoted CIABOC official as having said: “Every public officer must act with a clear conscience to build a transparent public service free from bribery and corruption.” Ms Bandara said that in order to build a good public service free from bribery and corruption, every public official should always do the right thing in line with their conscience.
The RTI Commissioner told the gathering: “If corruption within the public service can be minimised, Sri Lanka, too, can become a developed country like those in the developed world.”
They said so addressing an awareness programme held in Parliament to inform the staff of the Secretary General of Parliament on the responsibilities and expected goals of the Internal Affairs Unit, established under the 2025–2029 Anti-Corruption Action Plan.
In line with the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029, recently introduced under the leadership of the Hon. President, the Presidential Secretary issued a circular calling for the establishment of “Internal Affairs Units” within state institutions and accordingly, this unit was established.
While explaining the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act that pertain to bribery and corruption, she pointed out that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has the authority to take legal action regarding various issues such as corruption, bribery, illicit enrichment, and conflicts of interest.
The Head of the newly established Internal Affairs Unit in Parliament is Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament. Mr. Dinesh Withana, the Chief Internal Auditor, serves as the Integrity Officer.
Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, who also heads the Internal Affairs Unit, said that everyone must work together through this unit to create a more transparent Parliament.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
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