COLOMBO, August 26, 2026 – Sri Lanka’s ongoing commitment to combating corruption has taken a significant step forward with the presentation of the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill, No. 63/2026, in Parliament. Presented by the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education on August 19, 2026, this Bill seeks to introduce crucial amendments to the principal Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, aiming to bolster the nation’s anti-graft mechanisms.
The proposed legislation, which was published in the Gazette on July 27, 2026, signifies a comprehensive effort to refine existing provisions, enhance the powers of the Anti-Corruption Commission, expand the scope of asset declarations, and introduce stricter penalties for illicit activities.
Key Amendments Driving Enhanced Accountability
The Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill introduces a series of vital changes designed to foster greater transparency and accountability across various sectors:
- Expanded Commission Staffing: Clause 2 enables the temporary or permanent appointment of officers and servants from the provincial public service or the police force to the Anti-Corruption Commission, leveraging a wider pool of expertise.
- Director-General’s Authority to Withdraw Charges: Clause 3 empowers the Director-General to withdraw charges filed in Magistrate’s Courts, in addition to the High Court, providing more flexibility in prosecutorial decisions with judicial permission.
- Accomplice Immunity for Full Disclosure: Clause 4 introduces a provision allowing the Commission to authorize the Director-General not to charge or prosecute an accomplice under specific conditions – primarily, if they make a full and true disclosure of all relevant circumstances within their knowledge relating to the offence.
- Broader Asset and Liability Declarations: Clauses 5 and 6 significantly expand the ambit of individuals required to declare assets and liabilities. This now explicitly includes:
- Staff officers of statutory bodies.
- Executives of trade unions with more than one thousand registered members.
- Proprietors, chairmen, and directors of media companies registered with the Ministry of Mass Media and licensed under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act.
This aims to capture a wider array of influential figures within the framework of financial transparency.
- Privacy Safeguards for Declarants: Clauses 7, 8, and 11 address practical difficulties and privacy concerns related to asset declarations. Clause 7, in particular, removes the requirement to declare details of “total strangers” to safeguard their privacy, while Clause 11 clarifies provisions and introduces penalties for the misuse of redacted declarations.
- Investigation of Conflicts of Interest: Clause 9 specifically amends section 84 to make provisions for investigating matters related to conflicts of interest, alongside illicit enrichment.
- Strengthened Penalties and Asset Recovery: Clause 16 introduces robust measures for financial recovery and nullification of unlawful benefits. Upon conviction, courts are mandated to impose a penalty of not less than three times the value of any property acquired through corruption or the determined loss caused to the Government. Furthermore, any intangible grant, appointment, benefit, or advantage obtained through corruption by a public official will cease to be lawful from the date of conviction.
- Differentiated Bail Provisions for High-Value Corruption: Clause 17 repeals and replaces subsection (1) of section 149, making a critical distinction in bail provisions. Offences under the Act remain cognizable and non-bailable. However, for cases involving a bribe of not less than Rs. 100,000 or a loss to the Government of not less than Rs. 500,000 (or a benefit of the same amount), bail shall not be granted except in exceptional circumstances by a High Court, as confirmed by a certificate from the Director-General.
- Refined Definitions: Clause 18 clarifies the definitions of “public official” and “scheduled institution,” particularly by revising the government’s shareholding threshold for inclusion from “over twenty five per centum” to “not less than fifty per centum.”
- Protection for Recruited Officers: Clause 19 safeguards the rights and terms of employment for officers and officials recruited to the Commission between September 15, 2023, and the commencement of this Act, offering them the option to remain in service under favourable conditions.
Implications for Governance and Transparency
These amendments signify the government’s intent to create a more effective and far-reaching legal framework to combat corruption. The inclusion of media company proprietors and executives of large trade unions in asset declaration requirements underscores a broader understanding of influence and potential vulnerabilities to corruption. The enhanced powers for asset recovery and the stringent bail conditions for high-value offences reflect a stronger stance against economic crimes.
The Bill’s emphasis on both punitive measures and preventive mechanisms, such as investigating conflicts of interest and expanding the scope of declarations, aims to foster a culture of integrity and accountability across public service and key private sectors.
As the Bill moves through Parliament, it is expected to generate significant discussion regarding its potential impact on governance, individual privacy, and the overall fight against corruption in Sri Lanka.
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