Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06COLOMBO2119, CORRUPTION WORSENING IN SRI LANKA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06COLOMBO2119.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06COLOMBO2119 2006-12-22 06:39 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Colombo
VZCZCXRO2072
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #2119/01 3560639
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220639Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5006
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0406
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9726
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6662
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4722
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2087
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7226
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1634
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002119 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER 
 
DRL/IL FOR LAUREN HOLT 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS 
 
MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY AND E BURKE 
 
GENEVA PASS USTR 
 
 
E.O 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PHUM SOCI EAID CE
SUBJECT:  CORRUPTION WORSENING IN SRI LANKA 
 
 
1.  Summary: On December 9th 2006, the Sri Lanka Chapter of 
Transparency International organized the National Integrity Awards 
to commemorate United Nations International Anti Corruption Day. 
Justice Ameer Ismail, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Commission to 
Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and Ambassador 
Robert O. Blake were among the guests. Three members of the Sri 
Lanka administrative service were honored for their courage in 
bringing various aspects of government fraud and corruption to 
light.  Chief Guest Anura Roy of India and later the Ambassador 
urged Sri Lanka to enact a Freedom of Information Act to ensure 
transparency and accountability of government. World Bank and 
Transparency International indices confirm popular perceptions that 
the scope of corruption is increasing.  A recent USAID assessment 
found that the percent of a public sector contract paid in bribes 
has nearly tripled.  President Rajapakse has pledged his full 
backing to investigations of all corruption.   End Summary 
 
Importance of Freedom of Information 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. The Sri Lanka Chapter of Transparency International commemorated 
United Nations International Anti Corruption Day on Saturday, 
December 9th 2006. Ambassador Robert O. Blake was the guest of honor 
and the event was co-sponsored by the United States Agency for 
International Development's Anti Corruption Program which is 
supported with tsunami supplemental funding. 
 
3. The Executive Director of Transparency International, Mr. J.C. 
Welimuna, said in his introductory remarks, that: "abuse of power 
for personal gain - in other words corruption - has been one of the 
major causes in the failure of the Sri Lanka State...". He commented 
that all branches of government, the private sector and civil 
society have failed to show sufficient commitment to address 
corruption in their respective sectors.  Weliamuna lamented that "A 
culture of secrecy has invaded our lives."  The escalating conflict 
in Sri Lanka and government's imposition of more far reaching 
Emergency Regulations to address the security threat have resulted 
in a more restrictive operating environment for the independent 
media. 
 
4. The keynote speaker at the event was Ms. Aruna Roy, a leader of 
the civil society campaign in India that successfully campaigned for 
the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act in India. Ms. Roy 
spoke of the importance of such legislation to ensure transparency 
and accountability of government to the citizens and urged that Sri 
Lanka enact its own such law.  Note:  In 2003, the United National 
Front (UNF) government, led by then-Prime Minister Ranil 
Wickremesinghe, approved the drafting of a Freedom of Information 
Bill, but with the fall of the UNF government in April 2004, the 
bill was never tabled before Parliament. 
 
5. Ambassador Blake told the audience Sri Lanka needs effective laws 
and procedures to combat corruption. He cited the example of India 
where the Freedom of Information Act provides the necessary 
legislative framework to encourage integrity and accountability in 
government. He encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to pass its 
own Right to Information Law.  He also reviewed the steps the USG 
has taken to ensure integrity in government, such as the creation of 
Inspectors General that report to Congress, and the requirement that 
all senior officials file annual financial disclosure forms. 
 
Three Courageous Civil Servants 
------------------------------- 
 
6. Transparency International awarded three GSL officials for their 
efforts to root out corruption in government.  The first runner-up, 
a woman, was recognized for her courage in reporting sexual 
harassment by her supervisor and helping to make sexual harassment a 
crime under GSL regulations governing the conduct of official 
employees.  The other runner-up was an auditor in the Ministry of 
Irrigation who took the initiative to inspect irrigation projects 
 
COLOMBO 00002119  002 OF 002 
 
 
around the country, thereby discovering widespread misuse and 
diversion of Ministry funds.  The winner, the Auditor General of Sri 
Lanka, was recognized for his six years of work as Auditor General 
during which he uncovered tens of billions of rupees in corruption 
in the tax and other systems, and also brought the Auditor General's 
office up to international standards. 
 
Comment on Worsening Corruption in Sri Lanka 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
7. The award ceremony was timely.  There is a universal consensus 
that corruption is increasing in Sri Lanka.  Both the Transparency 
International Corruption Perception and the World Bank's Control of 
Corruption indices for Sri Lanka show a decline in recent years. The 
World Bank Control of Corruption Index has shown a decline from 
-0.17 in 2004 to -0.31 in 2005. Transparency International's 
Corruption Perception Index shows a decline from 67th place in 2004 
to 84th in the 2006 ranking. During the recent USAID Democracy and 
Governance assessment, anecdotal evidence from the private sector 
indicated that the percent of a public sector contract paid in 
bribes has nearly tripled. 
 
8. Several government entities do try to address corruption, the 
most important being: the Commission to Investigate Allegations of 
Bribery or Corruption, the Auditor General's Department and the 
National Procurement Agency.  However, there is a confusion of 
mandates and these institutions frequently interpret their mandates 
narrowly, inhibiting their effectiveness. 
 
9. Mr. Wijedasa Rajapakse, a Memember of Parliament and Chairman of 
the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises told the media 
alleging that state owned enterprises are "highly corrupt" and the 
loss incurred by these corporations is at least one hundred billion 
Sri Lanka Rupees (United States $ 100 million).  Mr. Nimal Perera, 
Deputy Auditor General of Sri Lanka, commented that these figures 
have not been confirmed by an audit.  But there is no question 
corruption is widespread.  To his credit, President Rajapakse has 
pledged his full backing to investigations of all corruption. 
 
BLAKE