Transparency International Sri Lanka has petitioned the Supreme Court against proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act, arguing that several clauses violate constitutional provisions and undermine accountability measures.
The government's proposed amendments to the 2023 Anti-Corruption Act have drawn criticism from civil society watchdogs concerned about the measures' constitutional validity. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya introduced the amendment bill to Parliament on August 19, 2026, with stated objectives of aligning the legislation with United Nations standards and fulfilling conditions set by the International Monetary Fund under its Extended Fund Facility agreement.
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has formally challenged the bill, contending that multiple provisions contradict the country's constitution and risk weakening rather than strengthening anti-corruption efforts. The organization argues that several clauses would create loopholes in transparency requirements, restrict public oversight, and undermine fundamental rights protections. TISL particularly objects to provisions that would concentrate prosecutorial discretion in the hands of the Director-General of the anti-corruption commission without judicial oversight, a change it warns could expose the office to political pressure and manipulation.
Other contentious provisions identified by TISL include raising the asset declaration threshold for state-linked company officers from 25 percent to 50 percent shareholding, which would exempt senior officials at entities with substantial public contracts. The amendments would also repeal requirements for officials to declare assets of cohabitants, potentially allowing corrupt officials to conceal illicit wealth through family members. Additionally, TISL warns that broad discretionary powers granted to the commission to redact asset information could obscure critical financial details, while new criminal penalties for unauthorized use of public information would effectively restrict media freedom and public scrutiny.
The government's stated aims for the amendment include introducing mandatory secondary fines up to three times the value of property acquired through corruption and revoking unlawful non-monetary advantages such as fraudulent appointments. However, TISL's petition requests the Supreme Court declare these provisions unconstitutional and require a two-thirds parliamentary majority and public referendum for their adoption.