25 November 2023 12:00 am Views - 54
A top parliamentary committee has recommended the appointment of special officers covering each divisional secretariat to curb corruption at some state institutions.
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Open and Accountable Government headed by MP Jagath Kumara discussed measures on how to investigate corruption irregularities in certain government institutions. The committee strongly emphasised the need to eradicate corruption and irregularities in government institutions by appointing a special officer at the divisional secretariat level. The officials of the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption were called before the committee at its recent meeting.
A communique from the parliamentary media unit said it has not been possible to recruit competent officers due to insufficient salaries for the respective positions. The officials requested the committee to prepare the salary scales for the Bribery Commission in alignment with the salary scales of the Attorney General’s Department.
“The committee chair emphasised that in order to get the services of the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission efficiently, the officials should be set at the right salary levels. The chairman further commented that the recommendations of the committee regarding the salary increase will be sent to the relevant departments.