New anti-corruption website, ‘ipaidabribe.lk’ launched in SL
View(s):Ipaidabribe.lk is a web initiative launched by ‘Diri Saviya’, a not-for -profit organization spearheaded by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera to tackle corruption in Sri Lanka by harnessing the collective energy of citizens.
Launched in Colombo on Saturday by Mr. Abeyagoonasekera, Ipaidabribe.lk is a site that focuses on crowd-sourced reports of corruption and bribery from Sri Lanka. The website was launched with the blessings of Most Venerable Suganadhamma Thero of the Vidyalankara Pirivena along with government and opposition Members of Parliament on the 19th death anniversary of late Ossie Abeyagoonasekera, a political leader who fought against corruption and to preserve democratic values of the Sri Lankan society. The founder of the site is the son of the late politician.
According to a media release from the organizers, what ‘ipaidapribe.lk’ sets out to do is give ordinary citizens a voice to be heard and share their stories. The site lays special emphasis on the various kinds of ‘Retail Corruption.’ This is the kind of corruption that confronts ordinary citizens in their daily lives when they’re not able to fully use the services they are legitimately entitled to from the government such as getting a driver’s license, a birth certificate, or registering a purchase of property.
Providing a space for people to speak about corruption is only one facet of the services provided by site. The larger aim of ‘ipaidabribe.lk’ is to use the data to make detailed recommendations on how the government can effectively eliminate avenues of corruption. The data collected will be used to argue for improving governance systems and procedures, tightening law enforcement and regulation and thereby reduce the scope for corruption in obtaining services from the government, it said.
The aim of ‘ipaidabribe.lk’ is to improve and increase transparency and all the complaints and stories on the website are in the public domain, there for everyone to see. It provides a snapshot of the level of corruption in our country and can be used as a tool for any positive minded government servant or politician to make positive changes happen with regard to corruption.
‘Ipaidabribe.lk’ is a tool to empower the ordinary citizens by allowing them to share their stories and make their voices heard.