Hon. (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate on determining the remuneration and conditions of service of the officers and employees of CIABOC.

¶ 02 Corruption has long plagued our economy like a cancer, robbing our children’s future and our citizens’ dignity. After this Government assumed office, Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index shows Sri Lanka finally signaling change: we have moved to 107th out of 181 countries, up 14 places from 121st in 2024, with our score improving from 32 to 35. We must not be complacent.

¶ 03 CIABOC’s officers must operate independently and be properly remunerated and resourced to do their jobs. Even Opposition Members have welcomed this. We are climbing out of a deep pit; the ground is still far away. Corruption is not only a moral failure; it is an economic catastrophe—an invisible tax that diverts funds from essential services and raises the cost of doing business, ending in public misery. Economists estimate Sri Lanka has historically lost around 2% of annual GDP growth to corruption—billions of rupees that could have built hospitals, schools, and modern transport. Consider the 2020 sugar scam: about Rs. 15.9 billion lost to the Treasury while people struggled with the cost of living.

¶ 04 Corruption repels quality foreign investment. When bribery becomes a precondition to expedite projects, we attract the wrong investors while genuine businesses move capital elsewhere. CIABOC must function independently so we can build good governance and halt corruption.

¶ 05 The Anti-Corruption Act, 2023, provides the framework; the priority now is implementation. In 2025 alone, CIABOC has received over 6,400 complaints—a stark signal of institutional dysfunction and a collapse in public trust. The path forward must be data-driven reforms: - A beneficial ownership register to curb illicit flows via shell companies. - Digitization of public services—from the Department of Motor Traffic to Sri Lanka Customs—to remove middlemen. - Whistleblower protections so truth-tellers are not silenced.

¶ 06 Our 14-place rise in global rankings is a glimmer of hope, but it must become a steady flame. We cannot allow corruption to remain anyone’s business model. Our laws must be stronger than vested interests.

¶ 07 We know how close corruption drove us to bankruptcy. Though we are recovering, challenges remain. The war environment in the Middle East has disrupted our fuel supply chains—beyond our control. As a Government, we are taking appropriate measures. This situation is due to war, not any other cause. Previously, we could not procure fuel due to lack of dollars; today, we have adequate reserves, yet procurement faces global constraints. We introduced the QR system to prevent illegal hoarding, encourage prudent use, and save time. Some fake media misrepresent this to provoke queues. We request they desist.

¶ 08 In the Northern Province, we are ensuring uninterrupted fuel for fisheries, agriculture, and cottage industries, and adequate supplies for essential services like health. As cultivation proceeds, we will allocate fuel for land preparation and harvest operations. Please do not politicize the fuel issue; it is global, not unique to Sri Lanka. With public cooperation, we will provide the fuel people need and curb illegal hoarding.

¶ 09 Finally, let us focus on possibilities—not problems—so people gain opportunities and improve their lives. Thank you.