Tell me about corruption - President

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 August 1999, 23:15 GMT]
The President has announced today that all complaints about high level corruption and bribery can be sent directly to her. The announcement, which was released by the Presidential secretariat, comes amidst pressure from the media and opposition over alleged bribes taken by the President and her media advisor Sanath Gunatileke.

The press release said that anyone who has information about bribery in the government or the Military can fax or phone the following number 01473839.

It also said that all phone calls will be treated confidentially.

The UNP protested in front of the bribery commission office yesterday over the channel 9 allegations.

However, one of the commissioners, former IGP Rudra Rajasingham, told the UNP that he could not do anything about the case because the PA has transferred out most of the bribery commission's employees .

The President tried to dismantle the bribery commission in '97 but she was unsuccessful as she required a two thirds majority in parliament that was not forthcoming.

The bribery commission has only investigated 5 cases during the period 94-97 and it has yet to solve any major cases of corruption.