CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake faces a Joint Opposition petition over alleged bias, pressure tactics, and a sworn affidavit.
CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake is facing a formal disciplinary complaint after the Joint Opposition accused him of arbitrary and biased conduct.
The Joint Opposition has made a written request to the Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to conduct a formal inquiry into the conduct of the Commission’s current Director General, Mr. Ranga Dissanayake.
The Joint Opposition, comprising several political groups including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the United National Party, the United Republic Front, and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, claims the senior official is acting in an arbitrary and biased manner.
Opposition political leaders have handed over the official complaint to the Chairman of the Bribery Commission, Justice Neil Iddawela.
The letter has been signed by opposition leader Professor G.L. Peiris and former Members of Parliament Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Premnath C. Dolawatta, and Bandula Gunawardhana.
They have emphasized the need for an impartial investigation based on a confidential sworn affidavit left by the late Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, before his death.
The political leaders have also requested that the Director General be placed on compulsory leave with immediate effect until investigations are completed.
They further call for strict disciplinary action against him thereafter.
Under existing legal provisions, the Chairman of the Bribery Commission holds all powers.
According to the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, the Director General is bound to always act under the direct instructions and guidance of the Chairman.
Since the members of this independent Commission are appointed by the Legislative Assembly to strictly uphold the country’s legal processes, the complaint reminds the Commission’s leadership of their primary responsibility.
It says they must ensure that responsible officials serving the Commission properly fulfill their duties.
The Joint Opposition says a seriously problematic atmosphere has been created inside the Commission due to certain actions of the current Director General.
It states that the Chairman and members of the Commission have full authority to investigate the allegations of bias made against him.
The opposition’s position is that under Section 19(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, there is no legal basis for the Director General to continue holding his position and performing duties while such serious allegations remain unresolved.
According to facts revealed in the sworn affidavit of the late Kapila Chandrasena, the Director General has allegedly been involved in several recent irregularities.
In that affidavit, Chandrasena stated that the Director General pressured him to give a statement implicating former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa.
He claimed this was done through threatening influence connected to a bribery case.
Chandrasena also revealed before his death that the Director General had told him he had arranged two special privileged opportunities for a person who had given evidence in a case involving former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
The Joint Opposition emphasized that such arbitrary and biased conduct creates serious suspicion and distrust among the public regarding the independence and impartiality of the entire CIABOC.
It says the Commission should immediately verify whether the contents of the sworn affidavit are true or false.
Opposition political leaders are also making arrangements to personally meet the Chairman of the Bribery Commission in the coming days.
They are expected to directly discuss what they describe as a serious crisis situation.
