President calls for accountability on International Anti-Corruption Day

• Urges Sri Lanka to transform into nation with minimal corruption and bribery 
• Says 2024 mandate is given to eliminate fraud and corruption
• Opines CIABOC should disclose reasons for withdrawing 40 out of 69 cases filed in 2021 and 45 out of 89 cases filed in 2022
• Asserts law implemented much like a spider’s web – small animals become ensnared, while larger entities able to break through and evade it
• States Sri Lanka is to be rebuilt, entire State system must be replaced

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday called for urgent introspection and reform to address Sri Lanka’s deepening issues of bribery and corruption. 

Speaking at the ‘International Anti-Corruption Day National Celebration – 2024’ held at the BMICH yesterday, the President stressed that justice cannot be ensured if those tasked with upholding the law fail to implement it effectively.

This year’s event, themed ‘Uniting with Youth against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,’ provided a platform for the President to address the systemic failures undermining Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts. He lamented the country’s decline in global corruption rankings, from 79th in 2013 to 115th in 2023, describing corruption as a “social tragedy” that must be confronted with genuine reform.

President Dissanayake underscored that Sri Lanka possesses sufficient laws and institutions to combat corruption, including the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). However, he questioned whether these mechanisms are effectively deployed, pointing to a dismal track record of accountability.

In 2021, the CIABOC filed 69 cases, withdrawing 40 of them, while in 2022, 89 cases were filed, with 45 later withdrawn. The President criticised the lack of transparency, urging the Commission to disclose why these cases were abandoned and why investigating officers failed to appear as witnesses.

Highlighting the ineffectiveness of the system, the President noted that in a single year, the CIABOC secured convictions against only two Police constables, a Grama Niladhari, and a clerk, reinforcing public perceptions that the legal system is skewed against the powerless while allowing the influential to evade justice.

The President emphasised that rebuilding Sri Lanka requires a complete overhaul of the State system, asserting that meaningful progress cannot be made without addressing systemic flaws. He called for collective dedication to reduce corruption, restore public trust, and create a State that operates with integrity and fairness.

“Power entrusted by the people must be used to serve them; otherwise, it becomes meaningless,” he said. 

He further highlighted that justice delayed is justice denied, pointing to the erosion of public confidence in the country’s legal and institutional framework.

As part of efforts to combat corruption, President Dissanayake praised the role of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and its JURE project, which has trained over 1,000 Government officials to uphold exemplary standards of governance. At the ceremony, the President formally conferred appointments to 15 of these trained officers, signalling a commitment to fostering integrity within public service.

President Dissanayake expressed scepticism about the value of future Anti-Corruption Day celebrations if tangible progress is not made by next year. “Celebrations hold no value if corruption and fraud continue to worsen year by year,” he stated, urging swift action to address the nation’s systemic failures.

The President concluded with a vision for a Sri Lanka with minimal corruption, urging collective effort to meet citizens’ expectations and restore trust in governance. “A healthy and functional State is essential for justice and progress,” he said, outlining a roadmap for transformative change in Sri Lanka’s fight against corruption.

Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister G.P. Saputhanthri, Public Security Ministry Secretary D.W.R.B. Seneviratne, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Senior DIG Priyantha Weerasooriya, CIABOC Chairman W.M.N.P. Iddawala, Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, foreign ambassadors, and CIABOC officials were also present.