January 19, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption watchdog has written to Parliament seeking clarity on the method used to disburse salaries to Members of Parliament, amid allegations that public funds may have been diverted for political purposes.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) wants to know whether MPs’ salaries are transferred into a single designated account or paid directly into each member’s personal bank account, Sunday Times reported.
The inquiry stems from a complaint lodged by former parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila, who has accused members of the National People’s Power (NPP) of channelling state-funded monthly payments towards party-related activities. He argues that such use of public money, if proven, would amount to corruption under existing law.
Gammanpila filed his complaint in September last year and has since indicated that he intends to formally request an update on the status of the investigation, as permitted under current legal provisions. The matter has drawn renewed attention to questions of financial transparency and oversight within Parliament.
