According to a survey by Transparency International (TI) nearly 50% of Sri Lankans believed that the police and political parties in the country were the most corrupt institutions in the country.

In April 2011, 1000 people were interviewed from Sri Lanka and other countries in the South Asian including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Bangladesh to determine the level of corruption in each country.

The survey showed that the people had the least amount of confidence in services provided by the police. The survey showed that there was a dire lack of confidence in the services provided by other government departments.

“Apart from the lack of confidence of the people in the police system, the survey also indicates that in Sri Lanka corruption was most prevalent in the Inland Revenue Department, Customs Department and land services such as divisional secretaries, kachcheries, pradeshiya saba, the Land Registrar’s Department and other such government services,” a TI Spokesman Shan Wijeytunge said.

This list was followed by the judiciary and education and health care services. Out of those who were interviewed 23% said they had to pay a bribe in order to obtain a particular service.

The overall results of the research in South Asia showed that corruption in government departments were highest in Bangladesh at 66% and the lowest in Maldives at 6%. (Olindhi Jayasundere)