Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has rejected allegations that he acts arbitrarily, saying he is merely exercising the powers vested in him through legislation passed by Parliament.
Responding to questions from journalists over allegations raised by various parties that he was acting arbitrarily, Dissanayake said the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, had granted extensive powers to the Commission.
“When Parliament grants powers through an Act, those powers are given to be actively exercised,” he said, stressing that he had never acted beyond the powers provided under the legislation.
Dissanayake said that while considerable public attention was focused on investigating wrongdoing after it occurred and prosecuting those responsible, greater emphasis should be placed on preventing wrongdoing in the first place.
He said society should move towards a culture in which people refrain from engaging in wrongdoing, adding that this approach should be promoted in the future.
The Director General also stressed that CIABOC was a “100% independent” institution and was not subject to any influence or involvement by the Government.
He added that the Commission conducts proper investigations into all complaints it receives.
