It was a lackluster exercise in hopelessness.

Early last week, the UNDP convened a press briefing to announce aid influx to address corruption. Nothing new because a similar exercise went through about three years ago and that report, considered comprehensive, continues to languish on some government shelf totally ignored and now submerged into oblivion. More so inoperative and to all intents and purposes considered obsolete.

UNDP Country Director Douglas Keh said envisaged aid would not eradicate corruption but the $858,000 would contribute to exchange views for broad-based interaction at least to stem the growing trend in Sri Lanka to reduce the incidence of corruption throughout social fabric of the country.

Bribery Commission Chairman Justice Ameer Ismail said the commission was established in 1954 and re-enacted to an updated situation obtained to accommodate demands within a more recent context. That was done in 1994.

Questioned by the media, Justice Ameer conceded that the commission in real terms is powerless to act if allegations are made against highly placed persons. He said an allegation of bribery did not end only with an accuser making a statement, but such statement also had to be investigated for authenticity and accuracy. There are hoax complaints. Such had to be effectively sifted and discarded subject to their credibility.

He also said the commission did not have a representative Minister in parliament. The Commission is ostensibly under the President. Although, authority is in that placing, there are severe limitations on accrued action that could be possible.

Also present at the press briefing were Attorney General Mohan Peiris, PC, Country Director UNDP, Douglas Keh and bribery commissioner, Justice P. Edusuriya.

Assistant Resident Representative (Program) UNDP, Zoe Keeler, introduced the subject and speakers who would address the press brief.

Attorney General Mohan Peiris said combating corruption should also be aimed at the private sector. His focus was that the private sector too should be held responsible. His rational was that if the private sector did not bribe there would be no takers. It was the problem of givers and takers.

The media raised the question that such prevention is feasible only if and when Government organizations would shed their muzzling grip on the private sector. State sector machinery is such that no private individual could continue his or her entrepreneurial functions of production without State interference.

Peiris also said that combating corruption should start from schools. School children should be effectively educated to recognize and thwart such situations of bribing and similar corruption functions.

He was also told by the media that the bribery commission was able to net only small ‘fry’ but the real big-timers continued in gay abandon with no controls.

Irrespective of the fact that Sri Lanka was the first country in Asia and the second in the world to sign the UN convention Against Corruption which came into force in 2005.

The question was also raised on the uncontrolled position of NGOs and INGOs and their finances. More to the point how these funds were dispersed and value of each community product correlating to physical functions and actual finances spent.

Justice Ameer said there are no laws enacted to stifle or arrest such expenditure or controls. NGO funds are brought in and disbursed by banks through NGO instructions.

The UNDP said corruption is a major challenge across the globe and Sri Lanka is no exception. After the tsunami, weaknesses in accountability at national and local levels were projected, it said.

This project would work with the Commission to investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to prevent and combat corruption.

All told, would the bribery commission, having had a report at the end of three years, be able to implement its contents?