Sri Lanka enacts Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act

Sri Lanka has formally enacted the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act, No. 25 of 2026, following endorsement by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on October 19. The legislation aims to address practical and legal obstacles encountered during the implementation of the previous 2023 anti-corruption law.

Key objectives of the amendment include resolving ambiguities in legal interpretation, fixing technical deficiencies, and correcting discrepancies between Sinhala and English versions of the text. The law is designed to improve the operational efficiency of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and streamline the submission of asset and liability declarations through a new centralized electronic system.

The bill was originally introduced to Parliament on August 19, 2026, by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. While the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasized a commitment to strengthening the rule of law, observers note that the effectiveness of the reform will depend on the independence and capacity of enforcement institutions to prosecute complex financial cases and recover illicitly acquired assets.