The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity. I wonder whether Government Members hurriedly brought this motion to congratulate themselves for scoring 35 points and ranking 107th on the Transparency International CPI. In 2016, at the advent of the good governance administration, where were we on that index? We were ranked 95 then. Now we are 107; last year we were 121. It seems this motion is to sing praises for moving from 121 to 107. But please don’t get carried away with one index—look closely and you will find better lessons.

¶ 02 In 2002 we had one of our best rankings—52—and in 2012 we scored 40 points. Start the congratulations from there, perhaps. Don’t clutch at one Verité Research or TI number and panic. As the saying goes, “What once was taboo becomes commonplace.” Be mindful.

¶ 03 We all agree corruption must end. Not only the Government—this Parliament, including the Opposition, stands ready to join the people to eradicate corruption. The root cause is often economic: a rider without a helmet paying off a policeman to avoid a fine; a motorist caught speeding paying to get off; paying a Grama Niladhari for a certificate. These are economic problems; they won’t vanish in a year or two.

¶ 04 Still, measuring progress through the CPI is good. We are 107 now; in 2016 we were 91; in 2002 we were 52. Generally, above 50 points is considered satisfactory; 40 is better but not enough; 35 is not even a simple pass. Nevertheless, we welcome the Government’s efforts aligned to the CPI to reduce corruption, and we will support good measures. The Opposition Leader has a clean record, never convicted or even charged for corruption to my knowledge. If the Government today claims proudly to be clean, we too can proudly claim the main Opposition ranks are clean.

¶ 05 But do not create a new culture of self-congratulation. Many past governments fell into trouble by singing their own praises; let the people judge.

¶ 06 If you truly believe you have reduced corruption, face the people: conclude the Select Committee, and within three months hold the Provincial Council elections promptly. Let the people decide. Thank you.