The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has identified around 34,000 individuals who are liable to face penalties over late submissions of asset declarations, Director General Ranga Dissanayake told the Committee on Public Finance (COPF).

Responding to questions from COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva regarding the Commission’s financial requirements and the availability of funds, Dissanayake said there was currently no money available in the relevant fund, but funds were expected to be received in the future.

De Silva suggested that the Commission impose higher fines where applicable, noting that revenue generated through penalties could be utilised to meet some of its requirements.

In response, Dissanayake revealed that approximately 34,000 individuals had already been identified in relation to late submissions of asset declarations, adding that penalties would be imposed on them.

De Silva remarked that the revenue generated through fines imposed on such a large number of individuals could even be used to purchase vehicles required by the Commission.

During the discussion, the COPF Chairman also raised allegations that the Bribery Commission was disproportionately pursuing individuals associated with the opposition.

Responding to the allegation, Dissanayake said the Commission was dealing with a significant backlog of investigations, including files dating back many years, and that this had resulted in several individuals in the opposition being implicated in ongoing investigations.

He said the Commission could choose to stop investigating older complaints and concentrate exclusively on new cases, but explained that priority had instead been given to establishing a special unit to complete longstanding investigations.

Dissanayake cited an investigation file dating back to 2005, saying the Commission would have to close it because legal proceedings could not be instituted after the lapse of 20 years. He said this illustrated the age of some of the files still remaining with the Commission.

He stressed, however, that prioritising old files did not mean that newly received complaints were being ignored, adding that investigations into other matters were continuing with the resources currently available.

The Director General also referred to several Presidential Commissions appointed in 2015, saying a number of files originating from that period remained unresolved.

He said the Commission had also received a considerable number of complaints following the change of government, including around 70 cases stemming from the Presidential Commission chaired by Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.

According to Dissanayake, these include major cases, but little or no progress had previously been made on several of them.

He further said there were files dating from 2019 where, apart from meetings being held, no substantial progress had been made until 2025.

Dissanayake maintained that new complaints were also being addressed and said the Commission would be able to devote greater attention to newer investigations as it completes the backlog of longstanding cases. (Newswire)

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Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Jagath Wickramaratne, has announced that the Leader of the House had not breached Parliament’s privileges concerning the nomination of the Director General of the Bribery Commission to the National Constitutional Council. 

Announcing his ruling on the matter raised by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara in Parliament recently (07), the Speaker said MP Jayasekara had alleged that the Leader of the House had misled the National Constitutional Council during the process of nominating a candidate for the post of Director General of the Bribery Commission.

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne further said that MP Jayasekara alleged that this had led the a breach of Parliament’s privilege and the matter be referred to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges for investigation. 

Announcing his ruling on the matter, the Speaker said the Constitutional Council is established as a distinct and independent constitutional body and does not fall under the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act. 

“The Constitutional Council functions under the constitution itself, and not under the authority of the Parliament or its standing orders. Therefore, any decisions or proceedings of the Constitutional Council cannot be regarded as proceedings of Parliament or of a committee of Parliament,” he said. 

As such, the Speaker said that as the Constitutional Council is not a committee of Parliament, the allegations regarding misleading the council do not fall under the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act or deliberation of the council. 

“Even if a Member of Parliament made an incorrect statement before the Council, it would not constitute a breach of privilege. The Council’s decisions are final and conclusive, subject only to fundamental rights applications before the Supreme Court,” he said. 

Stating that the allegations do not disclose any matter of breach of parliamentary privilege, the Speaker said, therefore, the issue will not be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. (Newswire)

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Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake has refuted claims that he had served in the legal team of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), it was reported. 

According to the Island newspaper, Ranga Dissanayake alleged that a deliberate attempt was being made to derail critically important investigations undertaken by the Commission.

Ranga Dissanayake further said that he served as a lawyer from 2000 to 2004 before joining the judiciary in October 2004, clarifying that he has never been involved with any JVP set-up. 

“There is absolutely no basis for this claim. I intend to discuss the issue at hand with the CIABOC Commissioners. Appropriate action will be taken in this regard,” he said.

Ranga Dissanayake further revealed that an individual had sought to discredit the Bribery Commission by falsely alleging that he had meddled in the admission of his son to Royal College Colombo in 2014.

Those who had been intimidated by the investigations undertaken by the Bribery Commission may resort to such measures, he added.

The Bribery Commission DG’s response comes after former JVP MP and current UNP member Nandana Gunathilake, during a recent TV programme, alleged that Ranga Dissanayake served as a legal officer of the JVP under him at the time. 

Nandana Gunathilake further questioned whether his appointment as Bribery Commission Director General could be considered neutral. (Newswire)

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A tense situation arose in Parliament today when opposition MP Mujibur Rahman inquired about the new Director General of the Bribery Commission, High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake.

Addressing Parliament today, MP Rahman said there are reports that Ranga Dissanayake had worked for the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) legal team.

When the MP pointed out that this was a serious issue, he was stopped by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne from raising the matter, stating that it was irrelevant.

However, responding to MP Rahman’s question, Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake recited a poem, hinting that the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) seems to be unaware of what they are seeking.

“What has happened to the SJB? You were an important political party before, right?” he further questioned. 

The argument occurred after former JVP MP and current UNP member Nandana Gunathilake, attending a TV programme yesterday, alleged that Ranga Dissanayake served as a legal officer of the JVP under him at the time. 

He further questioned whether his appointment could be considered neutral. (Newswire)

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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) says it has received information about several state entities systematically engaging in acts of bribery. 

Director General of the Bribery Commission, Ranga Dissanayake said that it was revealed that the acts of bribery were taking place with the support of most persons in the state department.

He further said that information has also been received that the money solicited as a bribe is shared among all state department members supporting acts of bribery. 

Ranga Dissanayake went on to note that, based on a similar tip-off, the Bribery Commission conducted a special raid at the Department of Motor Traffic headoffice in Narahenpita yesterday. 

“The office was inspected under a search warrant. During the raid, officers found Rs. 4.1 million inside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of the Car Transfer Unit of the DMT,” he said. 

The Bribery Commission DG revealed that the officials were unable to provide an explanation for the large sum of money, adding that, as such, it was assumed to have been collected via bribes. 

“Based on the tip-off we received, it is said that acts of bribery are conducted with the support of most staff of the DMT and the collected money is divided amongst those involved. As such, the Rs. 4.1 million seized was also kept by the Deputy Commissioner to be distributed amongst those staff,” Ranga Dissanayake said. 

Stating that soliciting or providing bribes was a crime, the Bribery Commission DG warned that the commission was vigilant of such persons and entities. 

His comments come following the arrest of three persons, including a Deputy Commissioner of the Motor Traffic Department, during a special raid conducted yesterday. The three suspects have been remanded until 03 June 2025. (Newswire)

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