TISL urges full financial independence for CIABOC

•  Warns credibility at risk

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has raised concern over the failure to grant the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) full financial and operational independence, cautioning that the delay undermines its credibility as the country’s lead anti-graft institution.

“Without genuine autonomy over its finances and operations, the commission’s ability to function as an effective and impartial anti-corruption body will remain compromised,” TISL said in a statement.

The intervention comes after the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by lawmaker Harsha de Silva, approved the CIABOC’s 2026 budget estimate earlier this month. While the COPF stressed the need for the CIABOC to enjoy the same financial autonomy as the Central Bank and Auditor General’s Department, the anti-graft watchdog remains tied to ministerial approvals that TISL says threaten its independence.

The group asserted that independence is “not just a technical matter but a cornerstone of the CIABOC’s effectiveness”, adding that anti-corruption investigations are “resource-intensive, politically sensitive and often implicate those in positions of power”.

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, the CIABOC’s budget must be submitted to Parliament through the Speaker and does not require clearance from the Finance Ministry. This framework was designed to shield the commission from political influence but TISL said the principle must extend beyond budgetary allocations to all aspects of the CIABOC’s operations, from staffing to administrative functions.

“True independence allows the CIABOC to set priorities based on evidence rather than political or bureaucratic convenience, to recruit and retain skilled staff without delay and to ensure that no case is abandoned or underfunded because it makes those in authority uncomfortable,” TISL said.

The organisation emphasised that granting independence does not mean removing oversight, noting that the law already provides clear accountability mechanisms to Parliament. 

“Strengthening its independence, therefore, does not mean removing accountability but rather safeguarding the commission from any potential political interference and compromised bureaucratic processes, while maintaining robust checks through Parliament,” TISL added.

TISL reiterated that public trust and investor confidence hinge on robust governance and accountability. 

“An anti-corruption body cannot carry out impartial investigations or prosecute cases that reach the highest levels of power if its resources and staffing depend on ministerial discretion,” it said, warning that the CIABOC’s credibility rests on whether it can operate free from political influence while remaining accountable to Parliament.