Bribery, the greatest enemy of a democratic nation

• While many of these cases are currently being investigated another concern is accountability. Can these officials be held accountable for these offenses?

A recent news item read that an Acting Registrar of Births and Deaths attached to the Alayadivembu Divisional Secretariat in Akkaraipattu was arrested for allegedly accepting Rs. 500 as a bribe to issue a birth certificate. Incidents of this nature reminds people that the system hasn’t really changed even after all these years. 

For some it maybe a laughable fact that a government official even accept a Rs. 500 bribe. But accepting a bribe is an offense and therefore, people, irrespective of their status, need to be brought before the law. 

However, there may have been many circumstances that either led or compelled this individual to accept a bribe. Perhaps he was so used to the system that it was normal for him to accept bribes. It could be that he had inspired many of his colleagues and juniors to follow these habits. It could be that he earns a pittance as a registrar that he needs an extra income to make ends meet. 

Bribery is considered as one pillar of corruption and there have been numerous instances when such corrupt officials had been brought before the law. What fuels a corrupt culture is the failure of law and order, the normalisation of corruption, and public’s reluctance to take action. In most instances, bribes are obtained from those in marginalised communities and people in the lower rungs of society who are desperate to sort out various kinds of documentation and require urgent services. They are not only desperate but they also fear about how much extra they would have to pay in order to obtain services. 

When people are compelled to provide bribes at whatever the cost to get certain things done, often in an illegal manner, it eventually fuels the bribe culture. This has become a usual practice when obtaining third party insurance claims and even driving licences. Some may even call it a commission to sound more professional but the purpose is more or less the same. Senior lawyers argue that bribery cannot merely be dismissed as a case of mutual consent between the giver and the taker as it remains an offense under the law. 

In Sri Lanka, accepting bribes (passive bribery) by a public servant is a serious criminal offence under the Bribery Act No. 11 of 1954 and the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, with punishments including mandatory imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of assets. The Commission to Alleviate Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) has received as many as 8,409 complaints in 2025. The amended Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 has widened CIABOC’s scope, enabling a more comprehensive approach to tackling corruption. This allows investigations into a broader range of offences, including money laundering, private sector bribery and trading in influence.

While many of these cases are currently being investigated another concern is accountability. Can these officials be held accountable for these offenses? One of the landmark cases is the imprisonment of former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman and former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando for committing an offence of corruption. Aluthgamage was sentenced for 20 years rigorous imprisonment while Fernando was imprisoned for 25 years. Some would call it an act of political revenge, but the message itself is clear. 

The NPP Government has pursued an ambitious anti-corruption agenda focused on systemic reforms, cost-cutting and digitalisation. But this is easier said than done, especially when tackling structural and institutional problems. The Government has attempted to maintain its legitimacy by removing benefits given to former heads of state such as allowances, personal staff and vehicles. Investigations have been launched against bureaucrats, former parliamentarians, members of the Judiciary, Police and private sector. These attempts are also part of broader shift in political culture from elite patronage to greater accountability. 

The NPP has displayed more political will to tackle corruption but challenges such as underfunding, weak legal enforcement and limited mandates stand in the way. Sri Lanka will prosper on a day when the common man doesn’t have to fear anymore about paying bribes to get a service done because they will no longer curse the system and this country.

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