TISL says CIABOC must rise to citizen expectations in fighting corruption

The Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has urged the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), to rise to citizen’s expectations in fighting the menace.

It said CIABOC now wields increased powers under the Anti-Corruption Act (ACA) with Justice Neil Iddawala leading the three-member Commission that was recently appointed.

Following this move there is a pressing need for robust action to combat systemic corruption, TISL emphasised in a statement.

The massive people’s struggle (Aragalaya) in 2022 highlighted the public’s realisation that deep-rooted corruption, coupled with governance weaknesses, caused the crippling economic crisis in Sri Lanka. There is a pervasive disillusionment and frustration regarding the State’s willingness to address these problems in good faith. Civil society and international donor agencies, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasise that genuine progress in anti-corruption efforts is crucial for the nation’s economic recovery. The IMF’s structural benchmarks for Sri Lanka, its Governance Diagnostic Assessment Report, and recommendations from the Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report underscore the importance of empowering CIABOC. 

TISL stressed the urgency for CIABOC to regain public trust by targeting high-profile corruption cases, moving beyond minor infractions to pursue major offenders. Establishing accountability, especially in cases of grand corruption, will encourage whistle-blowers and witnesses to come forward fearlessly. 

To make strides, CIABOC must expedite public access to asset declarations, proactively investigate major corruption cases, and expand its scope to address private sector bribery and sports-related corruption, and communicate its commitment and progress to the public. 

Considering the magnitude of the widespread, systemic corruption problem in Sri Lanka, TISL calls upon the newly constituted Commission to provide visionary, fearless leadership to the fight against corruption. TISL also calls upon the Government to resource CIABOC with the financial and functional independence and support it needs to be responsive to this decisive moment in the country’s trajectory towards recovery.