Sri Lanka’s sweeping anti‑corruption reforms were spotlighted on the opening day of the First Resumed Session of the 17th Implementation Review Group (IRG) at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.
Delivering a keynote address, Justice Neil Iddawala, Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), outlined the country’s transformative progress in legislative reform, digital transparency, and institutional strengthening. His remarks drew wide appreciation from international delegates, States Parties, and legal experts.
Justice Iddawala emphasized that Sri Lanka sees the UN Review Mechanism not only as a compliance tool but as a catalyst for genuine reform. He highlighted the Anti‑Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, which has restructured the nation’s legal framework, and the introduction of the Centralized Electronic Assets and Liabilities Declaration System. He also pointed to technology‑driven initiatives aimed at minimizing corruption risks, enhancing transparency, and improving efficiency.
The Chairman further detailed the rollout of the National Anti‑Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029, “Towards Integrity”, alongside capacity‑building programmes for local government institutions, the police, and the financial sector. Direct interventions in public‑sector systems identified as vulnerable to corruption were also noted.
Concluding his address, Justice Iddawala urged the international community to make the Review Mechanism an instrument that drives practical reforms: “For Sri Lanka, the true measure of success is not the number of laws enacted, institutions created or systems launched. It is whether these reforms produce a measurable improvement in integrity, accountability, public confidence and the recovery of public resources.”
Sri Lanka’s comprehensive approach, spanning legislative reform to digital implementation, was commended by participants, with the country’s progress cited as a practical example for developing nations. (Newswire)
