The primary reason the people elected the present government led by the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is that it is a corruption-free administration. This government has no secret dealings or transactions with anyone. Therefore, the government is firmly committed to eradicating corruption and will take uncompromising action against those who commit corruptions, stated Governor of the Northern Province Hon. N. Vethanayahan.
The first event of the National Awareness Programme for Local Authorities, organized by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), commenced this morning – on Monday 26.01.2026, at the Auditorium of the Chief Secretary’s Secretariat of the Northern Province in Kaithady.
Delivering the keynote address as the Chief Guest at this workshop held under the theme “Towards an Honest Nation”, the Governor made the above statement.
He further stated:
The President’s expectation is to build a public service in which the people can place their trust. Only when there is transparency in the public service can we win the confidence of the people. Our hands must always remain clean. Our services must not be rendered with any expectation of return. Any action without honesty cannot be considered service.
Local authorities are the government administrative structure most closely intertwined with the day-to-day activities and business dealings of the people. Therefore, it is essential for these representatives to have clear knowledge about bribery and corruption. Representatives must understand that even items given under the name of a “gift” or token of appreciation can be considered bribery in certain circumstances.
Services such as building approvals, business approvals, changes in assessment tax, etc., can be provided promptly. However, in some places these are deliberately delayed. Such deliberate delays are generally perceived as being done with the intention of obtaining a bribe. There is no room for such practices in the present administration.
In the past, you may have been pressured by political leadership to do wrong things. But under the present government, no such matters will be allowed to take place. Therefore, local authorities must provide excellent and honest service, he emphasized.
On the first day of this three-day programme to be conducted across the Northern Province, today’s session was attended by the Hon. Chairmen and Hon. members of the Jaffna Municipal Council and the 7 Divisional Councils of Jaffna District (Valikamam North, Valikamam West, Valikamam South West, Karainagar, Kayts, Delft, Velanai).
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. S.M. Sabry, Assistant Director (Legal) of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. The welcome address was delivered by Mr. S. Sutharshan, Commissioner of Local Government, Northern Province.
Resource persons from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption – President’s Counsel Chethiya Goonesekera (Commissioner) and Secretary, Ministry of Education, Northern Province M. Patrick Diranjan– delivered detailed lectures on the following topics: Building corruption-free local authorities, the role of local authority representatives in combating corruption, and legal background.
Tomorrow (on Tuesday 27.01.2026) the workshop will be held at the Chavakachcheri Urban Council Hall for representatives of
Valvettithurai, Point Pedro, Chavakachcheri Urban Councils, the remaining Pradeshiya Sabhas of Jaffna District, and 4 Pradeshiya Sabhas of Kilinochchi District.
Day after tomorrow (on Wednesday 28.01.2026) the workshop will be held at the Vavuniya Municipal Council Hall for representatives of local authorities in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Mannar Districts.
