Colombo (News 1st): Five members of parliament from different parties came together today (Feb 28) to publish their declarations of assets and liabilities in the public domain.

Tharaka Balasuriya, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, M.A. Sumanthiran, Vidura Wickramanayake and State Minister Eran Wickramaratne, came forward to take this step towards changing the political culture of the country. Transparency International Sri Lanka has campaigned for years to publish this information in the public domain.

Speaking at the event the Executive Director of TISL Asoka Obeysekara noted that the group of MPs who came forward to unilaterally disclose their assets to the public are doing this to show that this information is in the public interest and should be available to the public and we encourage other members of parliament to also follow.

MP Tharaka Balasuriya, one of the five members, said members of the political authorities, the MPs as well as the cabinet of ministers have a responsibility to the people. He said they have to show the general public that any increase in their assets is justifiable and the people should be able to witness it.

MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara said if the voluntary act they performed today becomes an example for the rest of the country they will be happy. He noted that he had raised this question many times in parliament.

MP Nanayakkara noted that if they are talking about corruption, why don’t they release their declarations of assets and liabilities and subject them for assessment and if there is any corruption involved action can be taken. He noted that this is where the politicians should start to put a stop to corruption in the country.

News 1st commends the steps taken by this group of MPs to improve transparency and accountability in the island and we hope that other public representatives will follow this example.

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