Bribery commission faces 544 vacancies and funding difficulties despite expanded anti-corruption mandate
By The Pulseline News Desk
A parliamentary oversight committee has recommended increasing the remuneration of senior officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), while highlighting administrative and staffing problems affecting the commission’s operations.
The Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by MP Harsha de Silva, has reportedly proposed that the remuneration of the CIABOC chairman, its two commission members and the director general be determined in accordance with the salary structure applicable to the President of the Court of Appeal.
The recommendation comes as the commission continues to face difficulties securing budgetary allocations, filling vacancies and expediting investigations, despite its expanded responsibilities under the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023.
The committee has observed that CIABOC had been unable to obtain funds allocated under the Budget because of administrative shortcomings, raising concerns about the financial arrangements governing an institution responsible for investigating bribery and corruption.
Budgetary procedures create difficulties
The committee was informed that CIABOC had encountered difficulties in accessing its allocated funds despite submitting requests for financial provisions.
Although the Ministry of Finance had requested the commission’s budget estimates, the Anti-Corruption Act requires CIABOC to submit its annual budget estimates directly to the Speaker of Parliament.
The committee has reportedly identified this difference in administrative procedures as a factor affecting the commission’s ability to secure the necessary funding.
The issue highlights the practical challenges of maintaining the financial independence of an independent investigative body while ensuring that its budgetary requirements are properly incorporated into the Government’s financial management processes.
CIABOC’s operational capacity depends on adequate funding for investigations, personnel, witness-related expenses and other essential activities. Delays in accessing approved allocations could therefore affect its ability to carry out its mandate effectively.
More than half of approved posts remain vacant
Staff shortages represent another major challenge facing the commission.
According to information presented to COPF, CIABOC had an approved cadre of 971 positions, but only 427 had been filled as of June 30.
This has left 544 vacancies, meaning that more than half of the approved positions remained unfilled.
The shortfall raises questions about the commission’s capacity to manage its existing caseload while pursuing investigations under the country’s anti-corruption framework.
Filling the vacancies would be an important step towards strengthening investigative capacity, improving case management and reducing delays.
However, staffing alone may not be sufficient unless the commission also has the financial resources and operational support required to deploy personnel effectively.
Efforts to expedite older cases
COPF was also informed that CIABOC was taking steps to accelerate the disposal of older cases, particularly in view of statutory limitation provisions applicable to offences committed more than 20 years ago.
The commission was reportedly seeking to expedite preliminary inquiries, which are required to be completed within one month, to speed up the investigative process.
The treatment of older cases presents a particular challenge for investigators, as delays can complicate the collection of evidence and create difficulties in determining whether legal action remains possible.
Expediting preliminary inquiries could help the commission identify cases requiring further investigation and address matters that risk being delayed beyond applicable legal time limits.
The committee’s observations underscore the importance of ensuring that investigations progress within the timeframes required by law.
Funding arrangements and seized assets
The committee has also examined the financial arrangements established under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Section 26 of the Act provides for a fund to meet specified expenses, including costs associated with contract employees and witnesses.
However, additional financial requirements were being met through allocations from the Consolidated Fund.
CIABOC is also expected to receive further funding during the year through proceeds arising from the seizure of assets, according to the committee’s observations.
The availability of such proceeds could provide an additional source of funding, although the commission’s operational requirements cannot be assumed to depend solely on the recovery or seizure of assets.
A predictable funding mechanism remains important for maintaining investigative operations, meeting personnel costs and supporting witnesses.
Strengthening the anti-corruption framework
The recommendations come amid broader efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s institutional framework for investigating and prosecuting corruption.
The Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, established an updated legal framework for the commission and its responsibilities.
However, the committee’s findings indicate that legislative provisions alone may not be sufficient to ensure effective enforcement if the institution responsible for implementing them faces persistent funding and staffing constraints.
The proposed remuneration changes are intended to align the compensation of senior CIABOC officials with the specified judicial salary benchmark. The committee’s observations on budgetary procedures, meanwhile, point to the need to resolve administrative difficulties that prevent the commission from accessing approved financial resources.
With 544 approved positions vacant as of June 30, addressing the staffing shortfall will also be essential to improving the commission’s capacity to investigate allegations and advance cases.
The challenge now is to translate the committee’s recommendations into practical measures that strengthen CIABOC’s operational independence, ensure predictable funding and enable investigations to proceed without avoidable delays.
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