Sri Lanka to expand anti-corruption agency reach to all provinces

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced plans to establish provincial branches of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) across all provinces in Sri Lanka. This decentralization effort aims to make anti-corruption enforcement more accessible to citizens in rural and regional areas, addressing geographic barriers that have historically limited reporting.

The initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption framework, which is seen as vital for economic recovery. However, the government is also navigating legislative challenges through the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill. This bill seeks to revise the Anti-Corruption Act No 9 of 2023 to improve investigations, prosecutions, and asset declarations.

While the expansion of enforcement machinery is intended to combat long-standing issues of patronage and opaque procurement, observers have raised questions regarding democratic safeguards. There is an ongoing debate about whether increased state powers over private information and wealth could potentially weaken constitutional limits if not exercised with transparency and consistency.