Additional Secretary, Finance and Media Ministry Thilaka Jayasundara said early this week that the country hadn’t been able to achieve its full potential due to inconsistent government policies, political instability, inefficient government bureaucracy, and extremely poor work ethics culture.

By Uditha Jayasinghe
If the private sector is serious about stamping out bribery, it must step up and cooperate with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), its top official said yesterday, calling on companies to work with its officials, insisting it would be faithful to its task.

When Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, the country inherited a host of British criminal laws, and their legacy lives on today. Years later, some of the laws, including those that pertain to bribery and corruption, have not been updated for the 21st century. According to Sarath Jayamanne, Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), he and his team have received Cabinet approval to move forward with amending outdated laws as a part of a full-fledged effort to rout the culture around corruption in Sri Lanka.

A minimum of Rs 100,000 fine has been proposed to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act for non declaration of assets and liabilities. The current penalty for such offence is Rs 1,000.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sarath Jayamanne, the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) speaking to news 1st stated that they are taking steps to amend the Bribery Act to include match-fixing as a punishable offense. He noted that if any private organization committed bribery they are unable to take action against it through the existing bribery act.