State officials from 22 government institutions were caught by the Anti-Corruption Commission last year for involvement in bribery.
The institutions include the Police Department, Ministry of Education, Consumer Affairs Authority, Provincial Local Government Commissioner’s Office, Sri Lanka Transport Board, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Land Commissioner’s Office, Regional Engineering Offices, Ministry of Justice and Legal Reform, Municipal Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas, Department of Agrarian Services, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Health, Eastern Provincial Passenger Transport Authority, Divisional Secretariats, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Mahaweli Authority, Samurdhi Authority, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Judicial Services Commission, and the Central Environmental Authority.
During this period, 73 complaints were received regarding raids, out of which 43 were successful. Additionally, four raids were postponed. A total of 57 individuals were arrested during successful raids, all while accepting bribes.
Among those arrested, the majority were police officers, numbering 16 in total. They included 2 Police Inspectors, 2 Sub-Inspectors, 7 Sergeants, and 5 Constables.
Apart from the police officers, those arrested included a former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, a school principal, an investigation officer from the Consumer Affairs Authority, a secretary of a Pradeshiya Sabha, a former Member of Parliament, the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, a drilling engineer from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, a Quazi Judge, and a Grama Niladhari, among others, making up a total of 57 individuals.
Following the police, the highest number of arrests for bribery was from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, with 5 individuals involved, 3 of whom were civilians. After that, the next highest number of arrests was from the Sri Lanka Transport Board, with 4 individuals caught.
