Corrupt officials will be punished, irrespective of status - Commission Chairman

Chaminda Perera

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Biribery or Corruption yesterday stressed that it has been dealing with those who are involved in bribery and corruption irrespective of their status in society.

According to Commission Chairman Justice D.J. De S Balapatapendi,the commission has been going after sprats as well as big time sharks involved in corruption.

“The notion among the public that the Commission is going after sprats letting the big time sharks involved in corruption go scot free is no longer the case”, he said.

Justice Balapatabendi stressed that the Commission has succeeded in netting minor employees as well as senior government officials and politicians who were involved in bribery and corruption for the past few years.

He was speaking at the opening of the five storied building complex of the Commission to investigate allegations of bribery or corruption yesterday. President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the new building complex at Malalasekera Mawatha, Colombo 7 for which the Government has spent Rs. 150 million. The Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau carried out construction work of the building complex.

Justice Balapatabendi further said the Commission has been given full freedom to carry out its functions by way of legal provisions. The Chairman added that the Commission officials have been given the fullest freedom to discharge their duties as specified in the Act.

“We are working towards the achievement of the objectives on which this commission was set up”, Justice Balapatabendi stressed. He added that the investigation officers attached to the Commission are working wisely protecting the dignity of the Police.

He added that the Commission will recruit a group of legal and investigation officers in the future too.

The Chairman said that the commission receives more public complaints than ever and steps are taken effectively to investigate these complaints under the provisions of the Commission to investigate the allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act No. 19 of 1994. Justice Balapatabendi added that the social and economic development of a country will decline, if corruption and bribery are rampant in that particular country. “Such countries can not achieve the goals of economic and social development.

Chief Justice Mohan Peris, Attornery General Palitha Fernando, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kithulgoda, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission Justice Palktha PereraCommission member and Former Appeal Court Judge L.K. Wimalachandra, Commission member and Former IGP Jayantha Wickremeratne were present. Director General Luckshmi Jayawickrama also spoke.