The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption conducted a Corruption Prevention Programme on 18.12.2024 for around 75 Prison Sergeants with the prime aim of empowering public service officers to eliminate bribery and corruption in government institutions and foster a clean public service. The programme was held at the Center for Research and Training in Correction at Angunakolapelessa Prison, and Prevention Officers of the Commission, Mrs. N. Wimukthi Jayasooriya and Mr. Sampath Arachchige delivered lectures during this programme which went on for about six hours.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is conducting a series of Corruption Prevention Programmes for officers of the Water Supply and Drainage Board and has so far held three programmes of the series. These programmes were held in their head office auditorium in Ratmalana during September and November 2024. During these programmes, the attendees were made aware of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, measures that should be taken to prevent bribery and corruption and of the repercussions of bribery and corruption. Prevention Officers, Mr. Sampath Arachchige, Mrs. J. L. A. Udeshika Madhubashini and Mrs. Ishani Wijesuriya were the resource persons for the conducted programmes.

Based on a complaint made by a resident of Thambalagamuwa, Investigation Officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested a Police Sergeant of the Community Police Unit on allegations of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs.5,000/. The Sergeant, serving attached to the Miscellaneous Complaints Investigation Unit of the Trincomalee Police Station has demanded this bribe to investigate the complaint regarding a financial dispute the complainant made with the Trincomalee Police Station and to facilitate him to take the money back. The arrest was made at around 2.13 p.m. on 23.12.2024 in front of the officers’ mess.

Based on a complaint made by a person in Madiwela, Investigation Officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption Commission arrested two businessmen of Maharagama and Gothatuwa area on allegations of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 9 million. According to the complainant, the bribe was in exchange for expediting the compensation with regard to the land in Torrington Avenue which the Urban Development Authority acquired from the complainant’s aunt. The arrest was made at around 3.08 p.m. on 27.12.2024 in front of a shop in Pita Kotte.

On 25th March 2022, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed a case in the Colombo High Court against an Administrative Grama Niladhari attached to Deraniyagala Divisional Secretariat for accepting a bribe from the complainant in exchange for issuing a license to transport timber, and the High Court Judge, accepting the preliminary objection raised by the defendant party, ordered to discharge the accused on 26th July 2023. The Commission preferred a revision application to the Court of Appeal against the said High Court order.

Based on a complaint made by a person of Gonagolla, Investigation Officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested a Beat Forest Officer and a Forest Field Assistant on allegations of accepting bribes of Rs. 40,000/- and Rs. 60,000/- respectively. The two suspects have solicited and accepted the bribe in exchange for not taking legal action against the complainant for sand mining in the Samangala forest reserve and maintaining a cattle barn there. The two officers attached to the Ampara Wildlife Office were arrested on 18.12.2024.

Based on a complaint made by a resident of Gonahena in Kadawatha, the Investigation Officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested a woman in Thalathuouya on allegations of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 350,000/-. The woman has demanded the bribe from the complainant to act as an intermediary in getting the work done from the Land Reforms Commission for the complainant to obtain the land, “Kirimetiyawattha” in the Pathahewaheta Divisional Secretariat in the Kandy district, for cultivation purposes. The Investigation Officers arrested the woman at 11.30 a.m. on 11.12.2024 at the car park near Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

Based on a complaint made by a resident of Weerawila, Pannegamuwa, Investigation Officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested an Office Employee Assistant of the Department of Immigration and Emigration on allegations of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 6,000/-. The complainant has handed over the documents on 30.07.2024 to obtain a passport after paying the Rs. 10,000/- which is the required government fee. When he came to collect the passport on 12.12.2024, the suspect has solicited Rs. 6,000/- from the complainant to get the passport ready. Accordingly, the suspect was arrested at around 1.45 p.m. on 12.12.2024 inside the Postal Branch on the 2nd floor of the Department.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is investigating into the circulation of around 6000 illegally imported vehicles in the country and is taking legal action against identified vehicles. The Commission took such vehicles into their custody for investigations and later handed them over to Sri Lanka Customs for further investigations and to charge the customs duties and other relevant fees. The second or third owner faces immense difficulty in such situations.

In connection to an investigation conducted under the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption issued a freezing order suspending a current account and a fixed deposit account (balance of the two accounts is approximately Rs. 20 million) belonging to former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for 07 days starting from 17.12.2024. This order has been issued in terms of section 53(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023.

The National Programme of International Anti-Corruption Day-2024 organised by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) was held under the patronage of His Excellency the President on 9th December at the BMICH. The Chairman of the Commission welcomed the invitees and briefed the programme objectives. The CIABOC themed this year’s programme as “Stand United to Break the Chain of Corruption”. While emphasising the importance of an International Anti-Corruption Day, the Chairman pointed out that the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023 is a turning point in the fight against corruption in Sri Lanka. Adding to the speech, the Chairman said that the effectiveness of the Act depends on its successful implementation, and expanding the scope of the Commission, strengthening the Commission’s mechanism and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability are important in this regard.

Marking International Fraud Awareness Week from 17th to 23rd November, a Prevention Programme was conducted for the staff of Mobitel on 19 November 2024 to make them aware of bribery and corruption. This awareness-raising was the initial step towards encouraging the staff to create a culture devoid of bribery and corruption within the institution. Assistant Director (Legal) Ms. Diana Kodituwakku and Prevention Officer J. L. A. Udeshika Madubashini were the programme’s resource persons. The participants were made aware of preventing corruption in the private sector and discussed the issues they have in that regard. They were also made aware of the concept of integrity and the new Anti-Corruption Act.