The Judicial Service Commission has approved the establishment of two special courts to expedite the hearing of bribery cases and impose necessary punishments, Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake said.
Speaking on a television programme, he said the first of these courts will be established next week. Once the courts are set up, bribery cases can be heard quickly and, if found guilty, appropriate punishments can be handed down, he added.
He further pointed out that under the current procedure, bribery cases do not end simply with arrests, court appearances, and bail releases, followed by media statements. He emphasised that bribery can only be eliminated through the imposition of punishments.
“This is a situation that must end with the imposition of punishments. That is how a message is sent to others – if you commit an offence, this is the punishment you will receive. Therefore, it must be done swiftly. We are taking all possible measures for this. We know justice must be served without delay. People have placed their trust in us. It is our duty and responsibility to protect that trust. That is what can help reduce corruption in the country going forward,” Dissanayake said.
According to CIABOC data, around 4,000 complaints were received in 2024, but within just the past eight months of 2025, 4,626 complaints have already been lodged, he noted.
