{"id":155204,"date":"2016-01-01T04:47:49","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T23:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=155204"},"modified":"2017-07-27T10:27:13","modified_gmt":"2017-07-27T04:57:13","slug":"transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/","title":{"rendered":"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite being an avowed champion of the Right to Information, the\u00a0Transparency International and its Chairperson have, up to now, failed to respond to several questions put to them by Colombo Telegraph in the public interest relating to the last\u00a0year\u2019s \u2018Integrity Awards\u2019 of Transparency International\u00a0Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

\"Ivan\"<\/a>

Ivan<\/p><\/div>\n

Good governance watchdog Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has given an \u2018Integrity Award\u2019 to the chairman of the \u2018Ravaya\u2019 newspaper, Victor Ivan,<\/span><\/a> by way of marking the International Anti-Corruption Day.<\/p>\n

These questions sent by Colombo Telegraph to\u00a0Transparency International\u00a0as on 21st of December are as follows;<\/p>\n

To
\nLakshan Dias <lakshandias@yahoo.co.uk> , Board of Directors TISL <directors@tisrilanka.org> Find email with recipient
\nCc Anushika Amarasinghe <anushikaamarasinghe@gmail.com> , Bj\u00f6rn Rohde-Liebenau <TIombuds@risk-communication.de> , Gehan TISL <gehan.dg@gmail.com> , Jayantha TISL <jayantha.fdo@gmail.com> , JC Weliamuna <weliamuna@gmail.com> , KW Janaranjana <kwjanaranjana@gmail.com> , Rukshana <rnanayakkara@transparency.org> , Sheila Richards TISL <sheilarichards777@gmail.com> , TISL Management <management@tisrilanka.org> , TISL Members <members@tisrilanka.org> , TISL STAFF <staff@tisrilanka.org> , Tony TILS <tonysent2@gmail.com> , Tonys TISL <tonys@hfhsl.org><\/p>\n

Chairperson,<\/em><\/p>\n

Transparency International Sri Lanka.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/em><\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph has reason to investigate the integrity of the decision-making<\/em>
\nprocess relating to this year\u2019s \u2018Integrity Awards\u2019 of Transparency International<\/em>
\nSri Lanka (TISL). We therefore kindly request TISL to respond forthwith to the issues<\/em>
\nraised below, in the public interest.<\/em><\/p>\n

Given TISL\u2019s celebration of Victor Ivan\u2019s work in the cause of democracy prior<\/em>
\nto 2005, cited as a reason by TISL for the recognition bestowed on him, why has TISL<\/em>
\nomitted any reference to Mr Ivan\u2019s conduct and writing during the two presidential<\/em>
\nterms of Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005-2010 and 2010-2015)?<\/em><\/p>\n

Is or is not TISL aware that Mr Ivan defended and wrote in favour of President Rajapaksa<\/em>
\nand\u00a0his brothers, even at a time when journalists and rights activists were<\/em>
\nbeing attacked and were killed during Rajapaksa\u2019s stewardship, all of which constitute<\/em>
\nmatters that are of public record?<\/em><\/p>\n

Is or is not the TISL aware that the lives of several rights activists who condemned<\/em>
\nthe undemocratic actions of the previous regime had come under threat during this<\/em>
\ntime and moreover that these individuals and their efforts were ridiculed and disparaged<\/em>
\nby Mr Ivan?<\/em><\/p>\n

Is or is not the TISL aware of an ongoing inquiry by the Fraud Bureau and one by<\/em>
\nthe Registrar of Companies against Mr Ivan regarding taking monies given to a solidarity<\/em>
\nfund for the Ravaya newspaper, where it was not disclosed to the contributors that<\/em>
\nfunds would be used to pay Mr Ivan?<\/em><\/p>\n

Is or is not the TISL aware that there is no provision in any law or statute to pay<\/em>
\nany such amount to Mr Ivan, regardless of the source of the funds?<\/em><\/p>\n

In the opinion of the TISL, would the above facts be of such serious concern and<\/em>
\nof a nature serious enough to hold back such an award until relevant inquiries are<\/em>
\nconcluded?<\/em><\/p>\n

Or, in the opinion of TISL, are the above matters \u2018unimportant\u2019 considering that<\/em>
\nTISL applauds Mr Ivan\u2019s \u2018sharp understanding of the country\u2019s problems and<\/em>
\ntheir origins\u2019?<\/em><\/p>\n

Would or would not the TISL agree that defending a regime with a track record of<\/em>
\nrepression as diabolical as that under Mahinda Rajapaksa is in fact, part of the<\/em>
\nvery \u2018problems\u2019 that the country faces?<\/em><\/p>\n

Is the TISL\u2019s decision, considering all this, acceptable as an affirmation of best<\/em>
\npractice standards advocated and followed by the parent organization Transparency<\/em>
\nInternational?<\/em><\/p>\n

What is the set of criteria used by TISL when selecting recipients for this award?<\/em><\/p>\n

Who were the members of the panel that was involved in selecting recipient for this<\/em>
\naward?<\/em><\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph would appreciate a quick and comprehensive response to the above<\/em>
\nconcerns which we believe are legitimate and moreover of utmost public interest given<\/em>
\nthe mandate of the organization and the ethical guidelines it apparently subscribes<\/em>
\nto and indeed publicly advocates.<\/em><\/p>\n

Related stories;<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chief Opposition Whip Condemns TISL\u2019s \u2018Integrity\u2019 Award, Calls For Explanation<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Victor Ivan Pocketed Half Of R\u0101vaya\u2019s Rs 10 Million Fund<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

R\u0101vaya \u2018Staff-Shareholders\u2019 Clueless About Ivan\u2019s Rs 5 Million Heist<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I Got Just Rs 1000 For My Share, Says R\u0101vaya Founder Director And Deputy Editor Colambage<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sajin Vass\u2019 Restaurant Tip Same As \u2018Hashish\u2019 Ivan\u2019s Salary<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ivan Must Return The Bucks He Took: Supporters Including 73 Year Old Pensioner Demand<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ivan\u2019s Rs 5 Million Heist Goes To Fraud Bureau<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ranil Hits Sixers Off Full-Tosses Bowled By Fraudster<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

R\u0101vaya Backtracks, Starts Paying Back Swindled Contributors<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Transparency International Gives Integrity Award To Accused Media Swindler<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

R\u0101vaya\u2019s Would-Be Shareholders Left Empty-Handed<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":147016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2186,1,6969,2375],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-155204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-featured-news","category-news","category-popular-stories","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\nTransparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan - Colombo Telegraph<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan - Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[…]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-12-31T23:17:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-07-27T04:57:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"532\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"281\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/\",\"name\":\"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan - Colombo Telegraph\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-31T23:17:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-07-27T04:57:13+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/9db3d0cfcfa59e1997e3c3524d454cb3\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg\",\"width\":532,\"height\":281,\"caption\":\"Ivan\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/\",\"name\":\"Colombo Telegraph\",\"description\":\"In journalism truth is a process\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/9db3d0cfcfa59e1997e3c3524d454cb3\",\"name\":\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/920b3181b0bf86b5c339ad9f0963a89f6a8b19c4b971e629987a021ba7a663df?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/920b3181b0bf86b5c339ad9f0963a89f6a8b19c4b971e629987a021ba7a663df?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/author\/colombo_telegraph\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan - Colombo Telegraph","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan - Colombo Telegraph","og_description":"[…]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/","og_site_name":"Colombo Telegraph","article_published_time":"2015-12-31T23:17:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-07-27T04:57:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":532,"height":281,"url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/","url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/","name":"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan - Colombo Telegraph","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg","datePublished":"2015-12-31T23:17:49+00:00","dateModified":"2017-07-27T04:57:13+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/9db3d0cfcfa59e1997e3c3524d454cb3"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg","width":532,"height":281,"caption":"Ivan"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/transparency-international-silent-on-public-interest-questions-related-to-award-given-to-victor-ivan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Transparency International Silent On Public Interest Questions Related To Award Given To Victor Ivan"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/","name":"Colombo Telegraph","description":"In journalism truth is a process","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/9db3d0cfcfa59e1997e3c3524d454cb3","name":"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/920b3181b0bf86b5c339ad9f0963a89f6a8b19c4b971e629987a021ba7a663df?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/920b3181b0bf86b5c339ad9f0963a89f6a8b19c4b971e629987a021ba7a663df?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH"},"url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/author\/colombo_telegraph\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Victor-Ivan1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155204"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":180307,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155204\/revisions\/180307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}