By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka’s ongoing overhaul of its anti-corruption framework came under the international spotlight in Vienna this week, with the country presenting its recent legislative, institutional and digital reforms as evidence of a broader shift towards greater transparency and accountability.
The reforms were highlighted on the opening day of the First Resumed Session of the 17th Implementation Review Group (IRG) under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Justice Neil Iddawala has outlined what he has described as a transformative phase in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts, covering changes to the legal framework, digitalisation of public accountability systems and efforts to strengthen institutions responsible for preventing and investigating corruption.
Justice Iddawala has said Sri Lanka viewed the UN review mechanism as more than a process for measuring compliance with international obligations.
Instead, the mechanism should serve as a catalyst for reforms capable of producing tangible improvements in governance, he has said.
New legal framework
A central component of Sri Lanka’s reforms is the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, which has significantly restructured the country’s legal and institutional framework for combating bribery and corruption.
Justice Iddawala has also highlighted the introduction of the Centralized Electronic Assets and Liabilities Declaration System, aimed at modernising the declaration process and strengthening transparency surrounding the assets and liabilities of public officials.
The use of technology has increasingly become a key component of Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption strategy, with digital systems being developed to reduce opportunities for corruption, improve monitoring and make public-sector processes more transparent and efficient.
The reforms come against the backdrop of growing international emphasis on strengthening preventive mechanisms rather than relying solely on investigations and prosecutions after corruption has occurred.
‘Towards Integrity’ action plan
Sri Lanka’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029 – “Towards Integrity” was also presented as a key pillar of the country’s reform programme.
The plan extends the anti-corruption agenda beyond CIABOC and law enforcement, focusing on strengthening integrity across vulnerable areas of the public sector.
Justice Iddawala has pointed to capacity-building initiatives involving local government institutions, the police and the financial sector.
Authorities have also begun introducing direct interventions into public-sector systems identified as particularly vulnerable to corruption, reflecting an attempt to address systemic weaknesses that can create opportunities for bribery and abuse of public resources.
The approach marks a shift towards prevention, with institutional processes themselves being examined and strengthened to reduce corruption risks.
Beyond laws and institutions
Addressing representatives of States Parties, international delegates and legal experts, Justice Iddawala has stressed that the ultimate success of Sri Lanka’s reforms could not be measured simply by the number of laws passed or institutions established.
“For Sri Lanka, the true measure of success is not the number of laws enacted, institutions created or systems launched,” he has said. “It is whether these reforms produce a measurable improvement in integrity, accountability, public confidence and the recovery of public resources.”
The emphasis on measurable outcomes reflects one of the central challenges facing countries undertaking anti-corruption reforms: ensuring that legislative and institutional changes translate into changes in how public institutions actually operate.
Sri Lanka’s presentation therefore sought to position the country’s reforms as an ongoing process rather than a completed exercise.
International recognition
The comprehensive nature of Sri Lanka’s approach reportedly drew appreciation from participants at the Vienna session, with delegates highlighting the combination of legislative reform, institutional strengthening and digital implementation.
Sri Lanka’s experience was also cited as a practical example for developing countries seeking to strengthen their anti-corruption frameworks while improving the efficiency and transparency of public administration.
The international attention comes at a significant point in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption drive, as the country seeks to rebuild public confidence in state institutions and strengthen mechanisms for protecting public resources.
For Colombo, the challenge now extends beyond demonstrating progress to international bodies. The real test will be whether the reforms presented in Vienna translate into stronger enforcement, fewer opportunities for corruption and greater confidence among citizens at home.
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