Bribed money outweighs earnings for Govt. from court fines, compensations

By Huzefa Aliasger  

The government has earned Rs.462,000 in terms of fines and compensation over bribery cases during the first quarter of this year, but the value of bribed money far outweighs it, totalling Rs.6.5 million, according to data published by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).  

The CIABOC received 1,267 complaints during the period, and 1,127 of them were submitted to the complaints committee for investigations. In 2024, 4,267 complaints were made to the Commission.  

The Commission conducted 24 raids across Sri Lanka and 20 suspects arrested. The Bribery Commission says among the arrested suspects are six Police officers, a school principal, a Labour officer, a field officer, and an officer of the Department of Immigration and Emigration.  

Additionally, a Public Health Inspector, a Development Officer, a Ministry of Justice employee, a Provincial Revenue Department Assessment Officer and six civilians are also among those arrested.

Twenty-four individuals have been prosecuted, of which 17 complaints were related to bribery, three complaints related to corruption and one case of unexplained wealth. 

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) recently launched a new anti-bribery initiative aimed at eradicating corruption within the institution, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. The Minister confirmed that CCTV cameras will be installed across DMT premises within weeks as part of the drive, emphasising a zero-tolerance policy toward bribery.  

The total cases concluded from January to March is 19, of which 11 are convicted, and another 261 cases are still pending.