Sri Lanka has moved beyond policy reforms and entered the phase of full implementation in its fight against corruption, says Ranga Dissanayake, Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Accordingly, he emphasized that a number of major institutional, legal and technological changes are currently taking place in the country. He made these comments while addressing the International Anti-Corruption Conference held in South Korea.
He stated that necessary steps are being taken to strengthen investigative activities, improve case management systems to obtain faster and more effective results. As an important step in this, he pointed out that three special High Courts have been established in Sri Lanka to consider anti-corruption cases as a priority and try them without delay.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is currently undergoing a restructuring process aimed at improving its operational performance. These reforms include increasing staff capacity, streamlining services and decentralizing its operations to make services more accessible to the public.
As a crucial step towards ensuring transparency in the public sector, Sri Lanka has also introduced an electronic asset declaration system this year to enhance efficiency, accountability and oversight.
The Director General further stated that the ‘National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025-2029’ and the ‘Strategic Action Plan of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption’ have provided a comprehensive roadmap covering all areas including corruption prevention, law enforcement, public awareness and institutional coordination.
He also emphasized that the cooperation between the Bribery Commission and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) of South Korea has steadily developed, focusing on practical implementation. As a major outcome of this partnership, a ‘Methodology for Evaluating Anti-Corruption Initiatives’ has been developed with the support of South Korea and the United Nations Development Programme.
He also stated that while corruption is a global challenge, meaningful progress can be achieved through sustained, practical and implementation-based cooperation.