International Anti-Corruption Day Was Observed on December 09 “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”

Youth-led integrity drives Sri Lanka’s renewed fight against corruption

“Corruption drains resources meant for people and erodes trust in institutions built to protect them.”

“Young people are often the first to feel the cost of corruption through poor education, fewer jobs and limited public participation.”

“Embedding integrity education in schools and universities invests in a generation shaped by ethics, not impunity.”

 “Working with youth is central to building a Sri Lanka free from bribery, corruption and abuse of power.”

As the world marks International Anti-Corruption Day, the focus turns to young people as central actors in resisting bribery and restoring trust in public life. With corruption draining resources, weakening institutions and narrowing opportunities, Sri Lanka is placing education, youth engagement and strong laws at the core of its response. New partnerships with schools and universities signal a shift toward long-term integrity and accountable governance.

It is noteworthy that on this occasion of observing International Anti-Corruption Day, this time the theme of International Anti-Corruption Day is ‘Let’s Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”

Overview of International Anti-Corruption Day

The United Nations has conducted special studies on how serious corruption is for developing countries. Due to the rampant corruption and fraud in a country, a lot of money that should be allocated for the welfare of the people of that country is wasted, and it has been proven through the results of studies on corruption that corruption can cause serious setbacks in a country’s move towards sustainable development.

Our world faces complex challenges, rising insecurities and deep injustices, many of which are tied to corruption and economic crime. Context Knowledge Corruption is the cancer of a country’s institutions. Once it appears, it spreads rapidly like a fire in a dry forest, consuming everything in its path before anyone can react. They drain resources from communities, enable organized crime and weaken institutions meant to protect citizens. It undermines the rule of law, weakens public bodies and erodes public confidence in them.

The money that should be allocated for development activities is wasted due to corruption and fraud, which disproportionately affects the ordinary poor of countries, causing economic stagnation and increasing poverty. Corruption destroys the country; it ruins the people’s lives and futures. It makes criminals with money feel safe and free and it makes politicians think that they can do whatever they want just by receiving a paycheck. However, it also makes ordinary people feel invalid and wrong. It makes people ashamed of speaking up and leaves them hopeless. Corruption silences people, and it slowly crushes our society.

Young people feel disproportionately affected by corruption

A global youth essay competition held in 2024, which received over 1,300 submissions, revealed that young people feel they are often the first to face the consequences of corruption. They described the consequences of corruption - how underfunded schools limit access to quality education and scarce job opportunities reduce their prospects, how healthcare becomes less accessible and opportunities for participation in public life are restricted. These barriers stifle their personal growth, limit engagement in decision-making and erode trust in justice, institutions and the rule of law.

Shaping tomorrow’s integrity

With 1.9 billion young people in the world today, nearly a quarter of the global population, tackling corruption is essential for securing their future. Yet shaping tomorrow’s integrity starts with the choices we make today. Its success depends on empowering and meaningfully including the next generation in anti-corruption efforts, harnessing emerging technologies and strengthening governance and institutional systems that uphold transparency and accountability. It also requires robust protections for those who courageously speak out and report wrongdoing.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain offer powerful tools to prevent, detect and expose corruption, provided appropriate safeguards against misuse are in place. Young people are at the forefront of this digital transformation, using their skills as innovators, developers and engaged digital citizens to create solutions that increase transparency, broaden access to information and enable secure, anonymous reporting for whistle-blowers.

Integrity in the private sector and ethical business practices are equally vital, ensuring fair opportunities and access to decent jobs for young people. Youth engagement in these efforts helps build transparent, inclusive and accountable workplaces and reinforces ethical standards across society.

Fighting corruption also requires strong international cooperation to dismantle organized crime, curb illicit financial flows and ensure public resources are managed transparently. When governments act with integrity, schools are better funded, public services reach those who need them and citizens, especially youth, can trust institutions to deliver fairly.

Education plays a central role in cultivating a culture of integrity from an early age, shaping a generation that resists corruption, embraces fairness and ethical behavior and is equipped to contribute to more secure, accountable and transparent societies.

Young people are at the heart of the fight against corruption. Deeply affected by its effects, they are uniquely positioned to uphold integrity in their communities and speak out against corruption at every level. By listening to their voices, supporting their leadership, and ensuring a meaningful place for them, The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption initially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Education on 1st of October 2022. It has been identified for a necessity of an educational program to increase the awareness of the school children to resist bribery and corruption to combat bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka by the year 2030. Apart from that CIABOC signed another historic Memorandum of Understanding with the University Grants Commission on 9th of October 2025 to combat corruption through university education, and took a proactive decision to work with universities to fight against corruption and promote integrity. The significance of this MOU’s extends far beyond institutional cooperation. By embedding anti-corruption education in universities, Sri Lanka is investing in a generational shift in attitudes toward integrity. Students graduating under this framework will enter public service, private enterprise, and civil society with deeply ingrained ethical principles.

The timing is crucial. As Sri Lanka works to rebuild trust in public institutions and strengthen governance, empowering university students who have always been agents of change with the knowledge and tools to combat corruption could fundamentally alter the landscape of corruption in the country for decades to come. Looking at the theme of this year’s International Anti- Corruption Day, it can be said that anti-corruption efforts in Sri Lanka have taken a new turn and begun to travel in a new direction.

Although the Commission had made all arrangements to hold this year’s International Anti- Corruption Day national events under the patronage of the President of Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka on December 09, due to the extreme weather condition in the country, it could not be held on the scheduled date. However, in line with the theme of International Anti-Corruption Day, various events were organized, including a debate competition between Western Province Universities, a half-hour live television program to introduce integrity clubs in all schools across the island, an event to introduce honor the “Lives Lived for Conscience, not Cash” in various sectors who have worked for integrity, the release of a special stamp marking Anti-Corruption day and social media awareness, but it is a matter of concern that the forces of nature did not allow for it. However, I would also like to inform you of the good news that the Commission is determined to make arrangements to hold the aforementioned planned International Anti-Corruption Day events in the coming month of January, including all Universities, for the creation of the nation with integrity.

In line with such international developments, the current Sri Lankan Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023 aims to implement international conventions, agreements, etc. to properly carry out the activities of the Commission, raise public awareness about bribery and corruption, implement international obligations against corruption, implement policies and regulate educational activities, and introduce laws and procedures to detect corruption. In this way, the absorption of international experiences, lessons learned, modern changes, etc. to stabilize the Commission is a welcome effort. It is the imperative of the hour for the entire Sri Lankan society to travel together to make it practical.

On behalf of the Commission, the Commission is committed to carrying out all possible efforts to eradicate bribery and corruption in Sri Lanka, acting impartially and independently, and we are confident that many obstacles in our way have now been removed, and we are confident that we will achieve our mission.

With the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025-2029 and the advent of the Anti-Corruption Act, which is shaping up to be the strongest law in South Asia, let us on this day commit to working with the youth in line with this year’s theme, especially to create a nation free from bribery and corruption with a secure and more effective governance; to completely eradicate bribery and corruption from Sri Lanka.

Compiled By:
Saldeen M. Sabry LL.B, BA Hon’s & AAL, Assistant Director (Legal)
Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.