Bribery and corruption cases flood commission in 2025

--Over 1,000 bribery complaints including some against politicians still under probe

--Nearly 300 cases pending in courts

--Dozens of state officials face bribery charges

Colombo, Sep 04 (Daily Mirror) - Over 1,000 bribery complaints, including allegations against several high-profile politicians, remain under investigation, according to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Between January 1 and July 31, 2025, CIABOC received a total of 3,937 complaints, of which 341 were repeated submissions. Out of the valid complaints, 2,682 were referred to the Complaints Committee, while 288 were directed for formal investigation.

A total of 1,011 complaints were dismissed due to insufficient evidence or because they fell outside the scope of the Bribery Act, and 489 were forwarded to other relevant institutions. An additional 275 complaints were sent to the Investigation Branch for recording statements.

According to the Commission, there are 1,154 complaints remaining to investigate.

Meanwhile, a total of 272 cases related to bribery, corruption, non-declaration of assets, and accumulation of unexplained wealth are pending before the courts.

These include 22 cases in Magistrate’s Courts, 249 in High Courts and one case before a Trial-at-Bar.

CIABOC said that nearly 40 individuals including several former ministers and secretaries have been arrested so far this year during investigations conducted by its Special Investigation Unit, Secret Intelligence Unit, Corruption Investigation Unit, and Victim Protection Unit.

Among those arrested are several senior public officials and political figures, including former Minister of Health and Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella and members of his family, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the former Chief Secretary of the Uva Province, and the former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. Others include former Chairmen of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Ceylon Fisheries Harbours Corporation, Airports and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka), and the Sri Lanka Ports Corporation, as well as a neurosurgeon from Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital and the Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic.

In addition, the Commission conducted a total of 72 bribery raids within first seven months of this year. The arrests include 17 police officers, in addition to 43 public officials and six civilians.

So far this year, the Bribery Commission has filed 54 cases in the High Courts against 64 accused individuals, including 31 cases related to bribery, 15 for corruption, and eight for the accumulation of unexplained wealth.

Those charged include three former ministers including Keheliya Rambukwella, Piyankara Jayaratne and Chandrani Bandara, 13 police officers, five Grama Niladharis, a school principal, eight civil persons, eight Pradeshiya Sabha members or officials, two former Director Generals of the Board of Investment, and several state officials.

In terms of financial impact, the government earned Rs. 2,120,500 in income from prosecutions between January 1 and July 31. This included Rs. 1,347,500 in fines, Rs. 585,000 in penalties, Rs. 18,000 in compensation, and Rs. 150,000 in confiscated assets, while Rs. 20,000 in fines was imposed by Magistrate’s Courts.