From large developing countries like China and India to small island nations like Vanuatu to Australia and New Zealand, TIAP cover a vastly diverse area geographically, economically and culturally.

This site will help you to learn more about Transparency International Asia Pacific and its work. TIAP is made up of the Asia Pacific Department of the TI Secretariat, based in Berlin, and 21 national chapters and national contacts. Without the chapters, TIAP would not exist. They carry out important anti-corruption work at the national level. Please click here for more information.

Rapid economic growth in much of East and South East Asia and in India has profound governance implications. However, many Asia Pacific countries suffer from corruption, in some cases endemic. At the same time, there are outstanding examples of transparency and accountability in the region.

By working together effectively, both at government and non-governmental levels, regional stakeholders can share best practices in order to reduce corruption.

The Program for Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) of Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) monitored the use and abuse of public resources during the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in 2010.

The results of the monitoring showed evidence of widespread abuse of state resources in both elections, which included the use of state vehicles and aircrafts by candidates, use of government buildings for election meetings and other propaganda work, excessive use of state media for the promotion of governing party politicians, use of state services for the support of the governing party, and the participation of public officers in active electioneering, including propaganda-related activities. The final report concluded that both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections were tainted by the abuse of state resources, which not only impacted negatively on the image of electoral integrity in Sri Lanka, but contributed to the erosion of public confidence in the electoral process.

Although Sri Lanka is known for its early introduction of universal franchise in the Commonwealth and regularly held elections as a flagship of democratic process, the programme showed that abuse of state resources is increasing. It not only compromises the integrity of the elections and the principles of equality and fair play but also ends up costing the general public.

However, most people do not view such practices as an offence; it is tolerated and even accepted. By recording the instances of abuses, the programmed aimed to create public awareness and debate, as well as using the information to militate against the practice in the future.

How the Programme worked

With the conclusion of the nominations for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in 2009 and 2010 respectively, TISL established a public complaint mechanism inviting the public to report the instances of abuse of public resources. It also ran a telephone hotline so that the public could lodge complaints. These and complaints received via emails and post and were all verified for accuracy.

In addition, TISL monitored the state-owned media on the nature of their election coverage. It was shown that the state media was unduly politicised and misused for the advantage of the incumbent regime. Verified information was included in the interim reports released to the public prior to the elections.

Recommendations

TISL made a series of recommendations to improve the current electoral situation. These included

• conducting national elections under a caretaker government rather than having an election while a particular political party is still in power,
• systemic changes, such as automatic audit systems on election expenditure,
• enhancement of the powers of the Election Commission and
• strict regulation of political party funding.

TISL’s findings and recommendations received wide publicity in the local and international media but were not welcomed by the government.

For the full report visit: http://www.tisrilanka.org/pub/reports/PPPR_BOOK.pdf

For press releases on this event please see the TISL website

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