- New anti-corruption drive sees some personnel already indicted
- CIABOC, Police need more resources and public support to ‘clean house’
- TISL points to politicisation, weak accountability as core drivers of Police corruption
Sri Lanka’s law enforcement system is undergoing an intense period of scrutiny as authorities investigate hundreds of Police personnel on allegations of corruption and misconduct.
According to Police Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler, the inquiries have been launched against 338 officers, with several already interdicted and others facing legal proceedings.
This development comes at a time of heightened public debate about accountability in law enforcement, following the historic impeachment of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a sitting Police chief was removed through a parliamentary process, signalling a significant turning point in how misconduct within the Police is being addressed.
A historic impeachment
The impeachment of IGP Tennakoon was the result of a parliamentary committee of inquiry, which found him guilty of 19 charges of misconduct. Among these was his involvement in a Police operation in 2023 that ended in the death of a Police officer. The parliamentary decision marked the first impeachment of a Police chief in the country, drawing attention to the broader issue of accountability in law enforcement.
The decision is widely viewed as an institutional milestone. Tennakoon’s appointment itself had been controversial, given prior allegations of misconduct and a court ruling that he had tortured a suspect. His removal by Parliament has underscored the growing willingness of institutions to scrutinise high-ranking officials, even at the topmost levels of the Police force.
Police corruption in SL
Corruption within the Sri Lanka Police has long been described as widespread and multifaceted. Allegations have ranged from petty bribery by traffic officers to complicity in organised crime and large-scale criminal networks. These issues have often been linked to weak oversight mechanisms, a culture of impunity, and limited protections for whistleblowers.
Sri Lanka’s position on Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reflects these concerns. The country received a score of 32 out of 100, where 0 represents ‘highly corrupt’ and 100 ‘very clean,’ ranking 121st out of 180 countries. This was a decline from its score of 38 in 2020, indicating a worsening perception of corruption across the public sector. While the index does not focus solely on policing, it provides context for the challenges faced by institutions seeking to restore public trust.
The persistence of corruption has eroded public confidence in law enforcement. For many citizens, direct experiences — such as the solicitation of bribes during traffic stops — have shaped negative perceptions of the Police. Addressing this perception gap is considered central to ongoing reforms.
Commitment to reform
In response to the impeachment and subsequent inquiries, the Government has expressed a renewed commitment to addressing corruption in the Police force. Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala emphasised that corruption prevention was already a core component of Police training but acknowledged that new measures were being developed.
“We have to create awareness programmes,” Wijepala explained in a recent interview. “If corruption occurs, officers must be treated accordingly. We have to ensure it is removed from the Police force.”
Among the proposed measures are the introduction of body cameras for Police officers and increased use of technology to monitor misconduct. The ministry is also working with intelligence agencies to identify potential cases of corruption more effectively. These initiatives are designed to increase transparency, provide clear evidence in investigations, and reinforce public accountability.
Police response
ASP Wootler confirmed that internal investigations were being actively pursued. Of the 338 officers under scrutiny, some have already been interdicted, while others face court proceedings.
“The newly appointed IGP has taken stern and swift action to bring wrongdoers before the appropriate disciplinary and legal bodies,” Wootler stated. He emphasised that corruption was limited to “a very, very small amount” of the 82,000-strong force, but stressed that no officer found guilty of wrongdoing would be shielded.
He added: “The Police will not whitewash any of the wrongdoers of this organisation. They will be dealt with through disciplinary channels and legal action where necessary.”
The Police Media Division has been tasked with providing updates, though not all arrest figures are made public. The acknowledgement of 338 ongoing inquiries, however, offers a rare glimpse into the scale of internal investigations.
CIABOC’s expanding role
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) remains the central institution in addressing corruption cases, including those involving Police personnel. Its authority was significantly strengthened under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2023, which expanded investigative powers and introduced provisions to address illicit enrichment and corruption in the private sector.
Between 1 January and 31 July, the CIABOC conducted 72 raids, 39 of which were effective, leading to the arrest of 49 suspects across multiple institutions. Of these, 17 were Police officers, including one Chief Inspector, one Inspector, three Sub-Inspectors, six Sergeants, five Constables, and one Constable Driver. An additional 27 arrests were made outside of raids, involving various institutions.
The CIABOC also filed 54 new cases during this period, involving 64 accused persons, including 13 Police officers. Convictions were secured against 27 individuals, among them an ASP and two Constables. By the end of July, the commission reported 272 pending cases.
CIABOC Chairman Justice Neil Iddawela explained that the process for investigating Police officers was the same as for any public servant. Complaints may be lodged by the public or initiated by the commission itself. Investigations are carried out by the CIABOC and prosecutions are pursued in the High Court through the Director General once a prima facie case is established.
Investigating high-ranking officials
While the CIABOC has reported significant progress, investigations involving senior Police officials present unique obstacles. Justice Iddawela highlighted issues such as intimidation, complex evidence gathering, and public scrutiny. A particular challenge arises because many investigators are seconded from the Police itself, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest when officers investigate their colleagues or superiors.
To mitigate these risks, the CIABOC stresses confidentiality and independence in its operations. It is also working to enhance whistleblowers and witness protection systems to encourage reporting of misconduct.
Unlike specialised task forces that focus on specific institutions, the CIABOC’s strategy is broader. It emphasises prevention, capacity building, and cooperation with national and international partners to combat corruption as a systemic issue rather than confining efforts solely to one sector.
Expanding legal powers
The Anti-Corruption Act of 2023 granted the CIABOC new powers aligned with international standards. These include the authority to investigate and prosecute cases of illicit enrichment, seize bank accounts, and freeze assets. The reforms were designed to reduce bureaucratic delays and close legal loopholes that had previously hindered corruption prosecutions.
For Police corruption cases, these enhanced powers mean investigators can move more swiftly and with broader jurisdictional reach. Legal experts note that the ability to trace financial irregularities beyond Sri Lanka’s borders is critical in cases involving high-value corruption.
Public participation and reporting
Both the Ministry of Public Security and the CIABOC have stressed the importance of citizen participation in exposing corruption. Multiple channels have been introduced to encourage reporting, including online portals, WhatsApp hotlines, and anonymous complaint systems.
Minister Wijepala noted that the ease of producing video evidence today strengthened accountability mechanisms. “Complaints can now be filed not only online but also through WhatsApp, sometimes anonymously. We have strengthened our internal mechanisms, and in the past few months, you would have noticed a significantly high number of investigations on charges of corruption against Police officers,” he said.
ASP Wootler added that citizens could report misconduct through local Police stations, directly to the CIABOC, or via a dedicated WhatsApp number (071-859 8888) and an email address linked to the IGP’s office. These systems aim to ensure that complaints are registered quickly and efficiently, while reducing the fear of reprisals.
Recent arrests and ongoing cases
Recent months have seen several high-profile arrests confirmed by the CIABOC. These include the apprehension of a Chief Inspector from the Okkampitiya Police Station on bribery charges and the arrest of a Constable and driver from the Western Province Crime Division. Such cases illustrate the continuing efforts to hold officers of different ranks accountable.
While arrests alone do not capture the full scale of disciplinary actions within the Police, they signal that both internal mechanisms and the CIABOC’s external oversight are being applied in practice.
Structural drivers of Police corruption
To provide an independent assessment of ongoing reforms, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) Deputy Executive Director Maheshi Herat discussed the institutional role of the Police, the root causes of corruption, and how Sri Lanka compared with regional peers.
Herat explained that under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2023, the Police had a limited role in corruption investigations. Section 60 of the act allows the Police to assist in cases involving bribes below Rs. 10,000, while the mandate for wider investigation and prosecution rests with the CIABOC.
She highlighted that the Proceeds of Crime Act had given the Police a broader responsibility through the establishment of a Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division under Section 45. This division will help recover assets lost to bribery and corruption, complementing the CIABOC’s work and aligning law enforcement with international asset recovery standards.
Herat identified politicisation and weak accountability as the core drivers of Police corruption in Sri Lanka. These problems extend beyond routine misconduct to the leadership level.
She cited the August impeachment of IGP Tennakoon as evidence that political influence and lack of oversight had enabled misconduct at the highest levels before belated accountability was enforced.
Surveys conducted by TISL reinforce this assessment. The Global Corruption Barometer 2019 – Sri Lanka found that one in four citizens who interacted with the Police had paid a bribe, and the Global Corruption Barometer 2020 – Asia confirmed that bribery in law enforcement was a persistent regional problem.
According to Herat, this culture is sustained by political interference in appointments, transfers, and promotions, as well as by weak disciplinary systems that are slow and unclear.
She explained that while small-scale bribery was more visible, systemic corruption was reinforced by broader abuses. These include unlawful arrests under special laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act, custodial abuse, and misuse of authority.
She also noted that Sri Lanka’s declining performance in the Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 32 in 2024 and a ranking of 121 out of 180 countries, reflected the wider governance weaknesses that sustained this environment.
The National Action Plan (NAP) has recognised the Police as a high-risk sector and introduced commitments such as developing codes of conduct, providing anti-corruption training, and building investigative capacity. Herat emphasised that long-term success depended on adequate resource allocation and systematic monitoring to ensure implementation.
She added that reforms should also address salary structures and performance-based evaluations. Competitive remuneration and fair career progression would help reduce incentives for bribery and improve professionalism, while performance-linked evaluations would make anti-corruption efforts more cost-effective.
Herat observed that corruption in Sri Lanka’s Police mirrored experiences in other South and Southeast Asian countries. In India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, citizens also report frequent bribery and political interference. However, Sri Lanka is more affected by politicisation of senior appointments and by the misuse of special laws during arrests, which complicates accountability.
She stressed that Sri Lanka could draw from regional best practices. The Maldives has introduced independent police oversight commissions with public reporting mandates. India has experimented with merit-based appointment boards for senior police officers at the state level, although implementation has been mixed. Indonesia has introduced digital complaint platforms and mandatory video recording of interrogations, which have reduced both bribery and abuse during investigations.
Herat concluded that Sri Lanka’s reforms should focus on independent oversight mechanisms, transparent leadership appointments, and technology-driven safeguards. These measures, she said, would help strengthen accountability and rebuild public trust in policing while aligning Sri Lanka with international standards.