Asset declaration: 34,000 defaulters to face strict fines
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has identified approximately 34,000 individuals who failed to submit their asset declarations and fines will be strictly enforced against all defaulters.CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake revealed the enforcement action at a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) held last week. Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development Department of National Budget Additional Director General Anoma Nandani also participated in the meeting.“We have identified 34,000 individuals. Fines will be strictly imposed on all of them as stipulated under the act,” Dissanayake said.COPF Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva noted that revenue from these statutory fines could help support the CIABOC Fund, particularly as the commission expands its operational footprint across the island.
Under the Anti-Corruption Act No.9 of 2023, politicians, specified public officials, and designated individuals must submit annual declarations of assets and liabilities by 30 June, covering dependents and cohabitants, and reflecting holdings as of 31 March.Declarations delayed beyond the deadline incur automatic salary deductions transferred directly to the CIABOC. For submissions between 1 and 31 July, the fine is one-thirtieth of the gross monthly salary for each day of default, while for submissions between 1 and 31 August, it is one-thirtieth of the average total salary of the preceding six months.
Submissions delayed beyond 1 September constitute a criminal offence, carrying, upon conviction, a fine equal to 12 months’ gross salary, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.The committee also discussed the operational framework and financial structure of the CIABOC Fund, established under the act. In response to a clarification sought by Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dissanayake said the commission had explicitly decided not to deposit regular Government budget allocations into the fund, ensuring that it remained exempt from standard Treasury circulars and general spending restrictions, thereby preserving its operational independence.Under the act, disbursements from the fund are restricted to two areas, for which formal rules have been drafted and gazette: payments related to confidential informants and specialized contractual arrangements under Section 27, and payments, protection, and compensation for witnesses under Section 144.
In addition to statutory fines, including those imposed on the 34,000 late declarants, the fund may receive external donations, grants, and other non-appropriation sources directly, rather than through the Government’s Consolidated Fund.Dissanayake noted that accountants often faced audit objections when paying routine investigation expenses, such as hiring forensic auditing firms; paying field experts, including for geological or archaeological inspections by experts; or travelling abroad to record witness statements. To address this, the Finance Ministry agreed to establish a dedicated sub-project budget line within the CIABOC’s State budget allocation, allowing such expenses to be covered legitimately without exhausting the fund.Establishing 23 regional offices by 31 December is a primary benchmark under Sri Lanka’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) Governance Action Plan. Updating the committee on progress, Dissanayake said that joint inspections with district secretaries across nine districts had revealed that most existing State buildings required extensive repairs.
To avoid delays, the CIABOC intends to lease premises in five to six districts initially, complete recruitment by 1 December, and formally open the regional centres by 1 January 2027. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is providing computer and technical equipment worth Rs. 109 million for the regional offices through a $ 2.5 million grant from the Government of Japan.
The committee spent considerable time resolving friction between general Treasury spending circulars and the CIABOC’s independent statutory mandate. Dissanayake pointed out the need to preserve the commission’s legal autonomy.“If I compromise the independence given under this act in my initial steps, it will face heavy criticism. Although the Management Services Department offered to approve our cadre internally, I did not go there because Section 25 explicitly states that the commission itself must decide its cadre,” he said.
To prevent recurring budget impasses between the Finance Ministry and independent bodies, Dr. de Silva ruled that the Treasury must issue a separate budget call for independent institutions such as the CIABOC and the Auditor General’s Department. Under this mechanism, independent bodies will submit their budget estimates directly to the Speaker of Parliament by late May or late June, allowing up to two months for parliamentary review and Treasury consultations ahead of the 31 July deadline for the Integrated Treasury Management Information System (ITMIS).
