Public sector wages now ‘fair’, no longer an excuse for corruption, says Anti-Graft Chief

By Nishel Fernando 

The long-held excuse that low public sector salaries contribute to a culture of corruption is no longer valid, according to the head of Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption commission. 

In a direct address to senior government officials, Justice Neil Iddawala, Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), asserted that government wages have reached a ‘fair’ and reasonable level.

Speaking at a lecture on good governance organised by the Institute of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka (IEPSL) and the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SASA) on Thursday, Justice Iddawala systematically dismantled the public’s perception that inadequate pay forces state employees to solicit bribes.

“While the public often cites low wages as a reason for corruption, I do not believe that is the case now,” the Chairman stated firmly. “Comparatively, all government employees are now paid a fair salary by the state, even when compared to high-level positions in the private sector.”

This statement is significant as it signals a major shift in the official stance on a key socio-economic issue tied to governance. It effectively removes what has been a common justification for graft and places the responsibility for ethical conduct squarely on the individual public servant.

The CIABOC chief’s comments were part of a wider, data-backed presentation where he revealed the findings of a year-long national survey on corruption. 

While outlining the top reasons citizens believe corruption thrives, he used the opportunity to counter the salary argument directly, suggesting that the government has held up its end of the bargain and now expects a higher standard of integrity in return.

This narrative shift coincides with Sri Lanka’s implementation of a stringent new Anti-Corruption Act. By declaring public sector remuneration as fair, the CIABOC is reinforcing the message that there will be zero tolerance for corruption, regardless of perceived financial pressures.