Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), Dr. Harsha de Silva, has raised concerns over the proposed 2026 budget for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) during Thursday’s (11) CoPF meeting, highlighting the sharp increase in salary provisions.
Under the new proposal, salary allocations would rise from Rs. 354 million under the current framework to Rs. 777 million, reflecting plans to expand the commission’s staff from 489 to 967 and establish regional offices across the country.
Dr. de Silva questioned whether such a large upfront allocation was necessary, emphasizing the need to align spending with actual staffing levels and infrastructure readiness. “Allocations should reflect real operational needs, not just projected growth,” he said.
CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake defended the budget, explaining that the increase is required to recruit and train new staff under Section 26 of the Anti-Corruption Act, ensuring the commission is fully operational by December 2026, as outlined in its Strategic Action Plan.
Treasury officials, including Deputy Secretary A.K. Senaviratne, expressed concerns about releasing the full amount at once, citing potential inefficiencies and the risk of unused funds being returned. They proposed phased funding aligned with recruitment milestones.
Dr. de Silva agreed that a rolling budget makes sense but reiterated the importance of monitoring disbursements to prevent lapses and ensure accountability. CIABOC officials warned that delays in recruitment could compromise the commission’s functioning, with Dissanayake noting that existing staff, including police officers, cannot be formally assumed until legally appointed under the new framework.