The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka have come together to support the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) on select Anti-Corruption Initiatives in Sri Lanka.

Country Director, Sri Lanka Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takafumi Kadono and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, in the presence of the Chairman of CIABOC Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala; Commissioners of CIABOC; R.S.A. Dissanayake, Director General, CIABOC, entered into the agreement at an event held at the CIABOC premises recently.

Commenting on the initiative, ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadono stated, “The response to people’s aspirations for better governance and rooting out corruption requires political will, strong partnerships, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders working on Sri Lanka’s recovery and sustained development.” He noted, “The initiative we take today with UNDP is a hopeful sign of a collaborative and innovative effort to thrust Sri Lanka towards growth and shared prosperity.”

Under the administrative agreement, the key priority of the project will look at advancing the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to operationalize a phased-out E-Asset Declaration System, in line with the new composite law on Anti-Corruption, which was enacted in 2023. The proposed platform aims to streamline the submission and vetting of asset and liability declarations, benefiting both declarants, CIABOC and the general public.

Highlighting UNDPs technical expertise in this area, UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota in Sri Lanka noted, “This pioneering administrative agreement between UNDP and ADB on good governance and anti-corruption marks a significant milestone in advancing efforts in Sri Lanka. By bringing together UNDP’s deep technical expertise and ADB’s financial acumen, aligning with CIABOC’s leadership of the national anti-corruption agenda, this partnership exemplifies a united, impactful approach to fostering transparency and accountability in society. This initiative not only strengthens the foundation for achieving national anti-corruption goals but also sets the stage for future collaborations and innovative partnerships.”

Underscoring the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka, Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala commented, “As a State Party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Sri Lanka has a clear responsibility to take active measures to combat corruption in all its forms. In this regard, CIABOC plays a vital role in implementing anti-corruption initiatives, and today’s project launch is a testament to our collective commitment to this cause. CIABOC remains at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts, ensuring the effective enforcement of laws, policies, and programmes that uphold integrity and transparency.”

The joint support to the select Anti-Corruption initiatives aim to integrate anti-corruption solutions in service delivery sectors, strengthening the institutional capacity of government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to prevent and address corruption, leveraging technology and innovation for integrity and anti-corruption, and leading on anti-corruption knowledge to create a more transparent, just and sustainable Sri Lanka, the release added.