Mr. Dassanayake's Pioneering Efforts in Anti-Corruption Training
A Champion in the Fight Against Corruption
August 29, 2024
![Mr Dissanayake Mr Dissanayake](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/whatsapp_image_2024-08-28_at_09.30.19.jpeg)
Setting the Stage
In August last year, Mr. Dassanayake stood out as the sole representative from the Central Provincial Council in Sri Lanka, during a training of trainers (TOT) programme which was conducted through the EU-funded ‘Support to Justice Reform’ (JURE) initiative, conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in Sri Lanka. Among 50 participants, he was the only resource person from the Kandy Municipal Council, representing a significant step forward in the fight against corruption in his region.
The training programme which was designed for trainers, was not just another workshop for Mr. Dassanayake. It was the beginning of a mission—one that would see him training over 1,000 officials in the Central Provincial Council on the new Anti-Corruption Act that was introduced in Sri Lanka. To date, he has voluntarily conducted seven successful workshops, reaching out to 600 officials across various local government institutions, including Pradeshiya Sabhas, District Secretariats, and Municipal Councils in the Central Province, towards implementing the National Action Plan on Anti-corruption.
![Participants at the training Participants at the training](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/whatsapp_image_2024-08-28_at_09.30.18.jpeg)
Turning Training into Action
Mr. Dassanayake has taken an innovative and inclusive approach to these training sessions, particularly on the targeting and selection of participants. He has prioritized certain sectors and fields which are particularly vulnerable to corruption. The selection of participants was done through a voluntary Google form, ensuring that those most eager to learn were given the opportunity to do so. His sessions have been praised for their relevance and impact, particularly his use of real-life examples, such as the story of an individual who had to bribe an officer to retrieve a relative’s body at the time of death. Such stories highlight the devastating effects of corruption on ordinary people.
One of Mr. Dassanayake's key strengths is his ability to adapt his training methods to the audience. “Through the JURE TOT training, I was made aware of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore through my sessions, I consistently link the Anti-Corruption Act with other important areas such as the SDGs and the Right to Information Act, making the training sessions more accessible and meaningful to participants.” Further, with insights provided by the JURE project, he would like to attempt training the private sector on anti-corruption through resources mobilized from the private sector itself.
![At the training At the training](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/whatsapp_image_2024-08-28_at_09.30.18_1.jpeg)
Connecting the Dots
The training Mr. Dassanayake received from the EU-funded JURE programme, implemented by UNDP and UNICEF in Sri Lanka and facilitated by the Ministry of Justice, is part of a broader effort to improve access to justice for all, particularly for women, the poor, and persons in vulnerable situations. This initiative, in collaboration with CIABOC, aims to enhance the capacity and scope of legal aid service providers, ensuring they can deliver efficient and accessible legal representation to vulnerable communities.
The study pack that was provided during the TOT session and the training programme as a whole were carefully curated and comprehensive, equipping him with an abundance of resources necessary to conduct effective sessions. “I very much appreciate the novel training methods and resources provided, which have significantly differed from traditional approaches that we usually use.” However, he also observed that there is a long way to go in his mission of raising awareness related to the new Anti-Corruption Act.
![Hard at Work Hard at Work](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/20240725_154942_0.jpg)
A Lasting Impact
Looking to the future, Mr. Dassanayake believes that adding subject knowledge on the SDGs and simplifying legal jargon from the Anti-Corruption Act could enhance the effectiveness of these training programmes. He further suggests that creating awareness of regulations and laws related to anticorruption would benefit everyone involved.
Without programmes such as this, Mr. Dassanayake fears that there would be fewer resource persons like himself, and vital awareness about new acts, such as the Anti-Corruption Act, would remain limited. His commitment to this cause and his progressive approach to the training sessions have helped create a more transparent and accountable governance structure in the Central Provincial Council, making him a true champion in the fight against corruption.