In order to promote transparency and good governance, many positive steps have been taken including the establishment of sectoral oversight committees and a budget office in the Parliament, President Ranil Wickramasinghe said recently while addressing an international conference in the parliament.
The President said this while participating in the special international conference for the Parliamentarians of the Asia Pacific Region, held on 06.12.2023 at the Parliament for the establishment of world peace under the theme of “Accountability in Action: Fostering Transparency and Good Governance Among Parliamentarians”,
The President also pointed out that these new positive measures implemented in the Parliament of Sri Lanka will enable policymaking to be more populist and financial control and other activities to be carried out in a more transparent and accountable manner.
The conference was held at the invitation of the sixth executive president of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, the Chairman of the International Summit Council for Peace in the Asia Pacific (ISCP), and was Chaired by the speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, and the president, Ranil Wickramasinghe, joined as the chief guest.
The conference was jointly organized by the Parliament of Sri Lanka with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and its affiliates, the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP).
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that it was a great achievement for Sri Lanka to be able to pass the Anti-Corruption Bill in the past to prevent corruption in the country. He also pointed out that this could be introduced as one of the strongest anti-corruption laws among regional countries.
The Sixth Executive President of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of the International Summit Council for Peace in the Asia Pacific (ISCP) Maithripala Sirisena said that in an international atmosphere where there are many military conflicts, some powerful communities of the world who are in a mentality war should pay attention to the thousands of people who are sick and hungry. He also said that everyone should work together for world peace. Also, the former president pointed out that a non-aligned foreign policy, which Sri Lanka is currently following, is needed by the whole world for world peace.
Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayantha and Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera were also presented with the ‘Ambassador for Peace’ certificate of honor by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ajith Rajapaksa, Deputy Chair of Committees Angajan Ramanathan, several ministers, state ministers, and members of Parliament attended the event.
Also, the Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF)and the Chairman of the Washington Times Foundation Dr. Charles S. Yang, Chair of the Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) Asia Pacific and Member of Parliament of Nepal Ek Nath Dhakal, regional parliamentarians, Secretary General of UPF Sri Lanka Dr. Chula Senarathne, and a group of former members of Provincial Councils and Local Government Bodies of Sri Lanka were also present on this occasion.
