The Government of Japan has committed US$ 2.5 million to support a three-year project aimed at strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms and promoting transparency and accountability in Sri Lanka’s public governance.
The initiative, to be implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focuses on establishing a robust anti-corruption framework to combat corrupt practices in both public and private sectors. The agreement was formally signed yesterday (July 1) at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo by Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata and UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota.
The project’s key objectives include enhancing the integrity of governance and business practices, improving the efficiency of government operations, and boosting investor confidence by curbing institutional corruption. It will also work to strengthen the capacity of anti-corruption institutions, improve investigation and prosecution processes, enhance stakeholder coordination, and empower citizens—especially youth and journalists—to play an active role in promoting accountability.
Importantly, the project will include components to engage young journalists and children in anti-corruption advocacy, aiming to build a culture of integrity from an early age and ensure sustained civic engagement.
Several high-ranking officials attended the signing ceremony, including Attorney General and President’s Counsel Parinda Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Ayesha Jinasena, Commissioners of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), and representatives from the Embassy of Japan and UNDP.
This strategic partnership marks a significant step in Sri Lanka’s long-term efforts to foster good governance and social accountability through international cooperation.
