Sixteen former ministers and three former state ministers have been convicted in cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) since the incumbent government came to power, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala has told Parliament.
According to Watagala, CIABOC investigations, between October 2024 and October 2026, led to the arrest of a former chief minister, four wives of former ministers, seven children of former ministers and six former local government chairpersons. A total of 226 people have been arrested over bribery and corruption allegations during this period, 55 of them politicians.
Watagala has attributed the pace of the investigations to government measures to strengthen the independence of state institutions.