My first encounter with a deeply and inherently corrupt society was during my undergraduate studies in South India. Not that my early years in Sri Lanka were entirely devoid of similar unpleasant incidents, with some individuals taking advantage of my naivety. Still, the level of corruption in India during the early 1990s was unbelievable.
It was far worse than what has been here. It appeared that virtually every transaction necessitated a form of bribery. Essentially, one could obtain anything from a college certificate to a passport by greasing palms. I found myself compelled to offer bribes to college administrative officers to receive my scholarship funds each month. Although I was reluctant to do so, they routinely deducted a portion of the funds before disbursing the remainder to me. Furthermore, when I visited the bank branch on campus to make a deposit, the bank staff also took their share. It was so commonplace that nobody even bothered.
The cycle of corruption was so pervasive; for instance, securing a berth on a fully booked train often required only an additional payment of INR 100. Police officers threatened gullible individuals, often students, for bribes. It seemed that everyone in the system expected bribes to supplement their modest salaries. Those who chose to resist participating in this corrupt framework ultimately faced significant disadvantages, as they lacked the necessary resources to navigate the system effectively.
The government knew it well too. During a visit to the drought-affected Kalahandi district in Odisha in 1985, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi remarked that out of every rupee spent by the government for welfare, only 15 paise reached the intended beneficiaries. The rest – 85 paise disappeared on the way. In construction sites, especially when they were done by state agencies, there were physically non-existent labourers. The names just appeared on the payrolls and the daily payments went into black holes.
More recently, the Government of India smartly tackled this problem with the introduction of the Aadhaar scheme. Aadhaar has enabled Direct Benefit Transfers, allowing subsidies and welfare payments to be sent directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, reducing the chances of funds being siphoned off by intermediaries. By linking Aadhaar to various welfare schemes, the government has been able to identify and remove fake or duplicate beneficiaries, ensuring that only eligible individuals receive benefits. This has increased transparency and accountability, as each transaction is recorded and can be tracked, making it easier to audit and identify discrepancies.
The use of Aadhaar has significantly reduced leakages in the system, such as in the Public Distribution System, where Aadhaar authentication ensures that only rightful beneficiaries receive subsidized food grains. Additionally, Aadhaar has streamlined the process of availing government services, making it faster and more efficient, thereby reducing opportunities for corruption at various levels of service delivery.
Examining the Manifestos
Return to home. As you read this in the immediate aftermath of the Presidential Election, it is noteworthy that all major candidates have included diverse policy proposals in their manifestos to curb bribery and corruption. Interestingly, strong actionable plans have been a common thread among the candidates. It is worthwhile to examine these proposals somewhat in detail, as regardless of the election outcome, some of these ideas should certainly be implemented to benefit society at large.
“Many have boasted about catching thieves, but none have taken action or shown interest in passing the necessary laws to ensure justice,” stated the manifesto of independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe. It further mentioned that discussions have been held with the IMF, and modern anti-corruption laws, based on global best practices, have been adopted to prevent bribery and corruption.
The objective was to make Sri Lanka the least corrupt state in South Asia by committing to strengthening institutions, recovering misappropriated state property, introducing a National Anti-Corruption Plan, revising the National Audit Act, enforcing disclosure of assets, liabilities, and interests, aligning the ownership benefits framework with the Financial Action Task Force, ensuring transparency in public procurement, and strengthening the Right to Information Act.
NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayaka’s approach included the establishment of a robust anti-corruption body that would be directly accountable to Parliament. He also advocated for strict enforcement of the law, ensuring that it applies equally to all citizens, regardless of their status. The manifesto proposed significant reforms to the Police Department, the Attorney General’s Department, and the Judiciary to bolster public trust and ensure fair legal processes.
Additionally, Dissanayaka has planned to introduce new legislation to recover state losses caused by the misuse of public resources and to abolish pension benefits for parliamentarians as part of a broader effort to reduce political privileges.
Sajith Premadasa, the Presidential candidate from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), outlined a comprehensive plan to combat corruption in Sri Lanka. Premadasa has called on professionals and entrepreneurs to join him in a mission to eliminate corruption and create economic freedom. He emphasized that his administration would focus on rejecting corrupt government deals and procurement methods, which he viewed as a significant barrier to the country’s progress. His strategy included fostering “humanistic capitalism” combined with social democracy to ensure economic growth that benefits all citizens equitably.
Premadasa has also highlighted his commitment to building a resilient economy through strict fiscal discipline and reforms in line with international standards. His broader economic plan, as part of his election manifesto titled “A win for all,” integrated these anti-corruption measures with policies aimed at improving governance and public services.
Finally, what particularly captured my interest was the proposal put forth by SLPP candidate Namal Rajapaksa. His initiative emphasized the use of technology to reduce human interaction in governmental processes, a strategy he believed would substantially decrease the potential for fraud and corruption. Rajapaksa asserted that by fully integrating technology into government operations, his administration could effectively mitigate corruption within a three-year timeframe.
India, Estonia and Georgia
One of the primary responsibilities of the new government, no doubt, should be to earnestly implement these proposals, irrespective of their political origin. It is uncommon for one political party to reference the manifesto of another for action items; however, in this instance, it may be warranted, especially regarding the proposals put forth by Rajapaksa. Additionally, the integration of technology is essential for addressing and mitigating corruption at all levels of governance.
India is one nation that has made progress in leveraging technology to combat bribery and corruption; however, it is not the only country to adopt such measures. Two other notable examples are Estonia and Georgia, both of which are former Soviet republics.
Another resemblance. Both these countries have shown significant political and economic developments recently. Estonia has established itself as a digital pioneer. It is also recognized for its strong advocacy of cybersecurity. The country’s political landscape has remained stable, emphasizing innovation and digital governance.
Georgia, on the other hand, has made significant strides in integrating with Western institutions, exemplified by its signing of an Association Agreement with the European Union in 2014. This agreement has fostered closer economic ties and enhanced political cooperation with the EU. In recent years, Georgia has concentrated on strengthening its democratic institutions and promoting human rights. Furthermore, the tourism sector has experienced notable growth, with Georgia emerging as an increasingly popular destination for travellers.
One of the key ways a digital government has curbed corruption in Estonia is by eliminating the “middle-man” in interactions with the government. By moving nearly all government services online, it became nearly impossible for officials to demand bribes, as “you can’t bribe a computer”. This reduced opportunities for corruption and increased efficiency, providing an estimated 2% GDP savings.
Digital-government also improved transparency and accountability. The government launched programmes like “No Citizen Left Behind” to provide widespread access to digital services, empowering citizens with information to avoid and report corrupt behaviour. Online portals were created for public procurements and company registrations, making these processes more transparent. Digital voting was introduced, increasing citizen engagement and the message that the government values public input.
Georgia’s journey is equally interesting. Particularly after the Rose Revolution in 2003, when the country implemented a series of bold reforms that leveraged technology to enhance transparency and accountability in public services.
The Georgian government introduced digital governance systems that smoothened many bureaucratic processes, reducing the need for face-to-face interactions that often led to bribery. For instance, the establishment of the Public Service Halls provided a one-stop-shop for various government services, all accessible through a digital platform. This not only streamlined processes but also minimized opportunities for corrupt practices.
In addition, the Georgian police force underwent significant reforms. The introduction of a computerized system for traffic police reduced the discretionary power of officers, thereby preventing corruption. The government also implemented a transparent recruitment process for police officers, supported by technology, to ensure that only qualified candidates were selected.
The tax administration system too was overhauled with the help of technology. The introduction of electronic tax filing and payment systems made the process more efficient and less prone to corruption. This not only increased tax compliance but also boosted government revenues, which were then used to further strengthen public institutions.
Connected Government
Whether it is Estonia, Georgia or Sri Lanka, a National Unique Digital Identity (NUDI) is the key to implementing effective digital government solutions, as it provides the foundation for a secure, standardized way to verify citizens’ identities online, ensuring only authorized access to services. By streamlining processes, reducing administrative costs, and enabling seamless data exchange between government agencies, NUDI enhances service efficiency and transparency.
It also promotes digital inclusion, allowing all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic status, to access government services. Moreover, NUDI builds citizen trust in digital initiatives, supports the adoption of emerging technologies, and reduces opportunities for corruption by ensuring benefits reach intended recipients. Overall, NUDI is a critical enabler for secure, efficient, and inclusive digital governance.
Then comes Connected Government. “Connected government” solutions link state institutions leveraging technology to create more transparent, efficient, and accountable public services. Automated systems efficiently and transparently handle tasks such as issuing permits, processing payments, and managing records. Advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate corrupt activities, aiding in monitoring transactions, auditing processes, and identifying suspicious behaviour.
Blockchain technology enhances the transparency and security of government transactions by creating immutable records that are difficult to alter, ensuring all transactions are traceable and verifiable. Digital procurement systems make the bidding process more transparent and competitive, reducing the chances of favouritism and corruption by publishing all procurement-related information online.
With the support of the public mandate, one of the new government’s primary priorities should be to implement the above actions. Data-driven digital government solutions are, definitely essential, as evidenced by successful implementations in India, Estonia, and Georgia. This is the most opportune moment to invest funds and time in this initiative, as all necessary components—an authentic commitment to progress, public support, available resources, and viable solutions—are readily accessible.
By not doing that, we will be inadvertently pushing the country towards a twenty-first century corrupt society, something that will be rarely seen at a global level.