COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka has moved up four places from 95th to 91st position in the Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International for the year 2017.

Sri Lanka’s score has only risen by two points from 36 in 2016, to 38, representing the slow rate of progress.

This year’s Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International highlights that the majority of countries are making little or no progress in ending corruption, while further analysis shows journalists and activists in corrupt countries risking their lives every day in an effort to speak out.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), has expressed concern that Sri Lanka’s current CPI score of 38 is the same score that prevailed in 2014.

According to TISL, the country, has failed to show any significant progress in its CPI score year on year for the past five years – an increase or decrease of 6 points or more represents a significant change.

According to Asoka Obeysekara, Executive Director of TISL, they have seen a two point increase, which is illustrative of the fact that, whilst the score has improved it has improved very slowly and the improvement is only fair at best.

Furthermore, what this highlights is the fact that the perception of public sector corruption is also stagnant. The key issue is that in many occasions agencies have strengthened, but actually has there been much difference in the way in which implementation occurs.

Among the SAARC member states, Bhutan leads with a score of 67, followed by India with 40 point,

Since its inception in 1995, the Corruption Perceptions Index, is the leading global indicator of public sector corruption.

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