TISL felicitates Covid Heroes through Integrity Icon 2021
Transparency International Sri Lanka on Tuesday (Jan. 11) held the award ceremony of the Integrity Icon 2021 program at the BMICH in Colombo, to recognise and honour the public sector Covid heroes of Sri Lanka.
The event began with a moment of silence being observed in remembrance of the victims of Covid 19 in Sri Lanka as well as the numerous frontline workers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty as the country battled to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Integrity Icon, a program conceptualised by Accountability lab which is a global organisation that seeks to support change makers to develop and implement positive ideas for integrity in their communities, was held for the 4th consecutive time this year.
Integrity Icon Sri Lanka 2021 marked a shift from the previous years. Acknowledging the vastly different circumstances we now live in due to the global pandemic, Integrity Icon 2021 was dedicated to celebrating COVID 19 frontline workers. The program aimed to champion public sector officials who serve with integrity and honesty, who go above and beyond the call of duty and make sacrifices in order to manage the pandemic.
The process of selecting the Integrity Icons of 2021 commenced in June 2021 with the appointment of an independent panel of judges. Nominations were then accepted from public sector frontline workers Islandwide and following a meticulous vetting process which included online and in-person interviews, 10 finalists were selected from over 250 nominations received.
The following individuals were recognized as Integrity Icons for the year 2021,
- C.Nishari Anurudhdhika De Silva
Grama Niladhari officer – Dambhaduraya,Seeduwa - Dr Hasitha Attanayake
Director – IDH Hospital - K.G.Geethananda
Ambulance Driver – Divisional Hospital Batapola - Nimmi Jayasekara
Infection Control Nursing Officer – District General Hospital,Embilpitiya - Shanmugaraja Shivasri
Divisional Secretary – Thellippalai
Among the top 10 finalists were,
- Dr.Indika Ellawala
Medical Officer of Health – MOH Office, Piliyandala, - Dr.Praneeth Thommadura
District Medical Officer – District Hospital Karandeniya - K.G.G.P.K.Rathnayake
PHI – Divison No 1 MOH Office, Colombo Municipal Council - Dr.Nishantha Padmalal Wedage
Medical Officer of Health – MOH Office, Udugama - S.H.Ameer
Public Health Field Officer – MOH office Muttur
Consultant specialist physician, Dr. Sarath Gamini De Silva who has served in numerous capacities throughout his lengthy public service spanning 30 years was the chief guest at the occasion and was on hand to felicitate the Integrity Icons as well as the top 10 finalists.
Addressing the gathering he stated “how the public servants rose to the occasion in the face of unprecedented challenges due to the COVID pandemic shows the innate goodness of man. Their integrity, honesty and being guided by strong moral principles by many, especially in the state health services, is worthy of admiration.”
He also noted that, “with corruption rampant at all levels, with no transparency at all, and when wrong doers are not punished when detected, it is extremely difficult to maintain an honest service by the public servants. Generally, good honourable service is not rewarded to encourage them. Thus this initiative of the local chapter of the Transparency International and the Integrity Icon programme to name and fame those public servants who went the extra mile in the service of humanity is praiseworthy.”
Transparency International Sri Lanka Executive Director, Attorney-at-Law Nadishani Perera speaking at the occasion stated that, “These role models of integrity play a critical role in the fight against corruption. They demonstrate how a public official can stand against the tide of corruption and render a great service to the nation.”
“Integrity Icons bring the most needed hope and encouragement to that integrity can still prevail over corruption.”
We salute our frontline workers who have been instrumental in curbing Covid 19 in Sri Lanka and continue to do so putting their lives as well as the lives of their loved ones at risk for the sake of the people of Sri Lanka. TISL hopes and believes that the Integrity Icons of 2021 will continue to serve the nation with integrity and serve to be a shining example for all public officials in the country.
Meet the Icons – 2021
C. Nishari Anurudhdhika De Silva
Grama Niladhari officer – Dambhaduraya,Seeduwa
Finalists
Dr. Indika Ellawala
Medical Officer of Health – MOH Office, Piliyandala.
K. G. Geethananda
Ambulance Driver – Divisional Hospital Batapola
K. G. G. P. K. Rathnayake
PHI – Divison No 1 MOH Office, Colombo Municipal Council
Nimmi Jayasekara
Infection Control Nursing Officer
District General Hospital, Embilpitiya
Dr. Nishantha Padmalal Wedage
Medical Officer of Health – MOH Office, Udugama
Dr. Hasitha Attanayake
Director – IDH Hospital
Dr. Praneeth Thommadura
District Medical Officer – District Hospital Karandeniya
Shanmugaraja Shivasri
Divisional Secretary – Thellippalai
S. H. Ameer
Public Health Field Officer – MOH office Muttur
