(Sri Lanka Brief 04 October 2025) Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Ranga Dissanayake, has strongly refuted recent accusations aimed at undermining his credibility and the Commission’s work. Speaking at a media briefing on October 2nd, Dissanayake described the claims as part of a deliberate campaign to erode public trust in the Commission.
Allegations of Political Involvement
Responding to accusations that he was previously affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) legal committee, Dissanayake stated:
“I joined the judiciary as a magistrate in 2004 and was appointed to the High Court in 2020. I assumed the role of Director General of CIABOC on secondment in January 2025. If I had been actively involved in politics, I would not have been eligible to serve as a judge. Mr. Nandana Gunathilaka, who is making these claims, remained silent for over two decades. He never raised these concerns with the Judicial Service Commission, which he could have done if he believed someone with political ties was unfit for judicial office. I categorically deny ever being part of any political committee.”
Dissanayake criticized what he described as a troubling trend in legal and political circles:
“There’s a strange culture emerging—some lawyers make baseless allegations and then demand that the accused prove them false. That’s not how justice works. If Mr. Gunathilaka believes his claims are true, he should submit documented evidence to the Judicial Service Commission instead of making public statements. Parliamentary privilege is often misused to spread misinformation without accountability.”
Eligibility Under the Anti-Corruption Act
Addressing concerns raised by Attorney-at-Law Udaya Gammanpila regarding his eligibility under Section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Act, Dissanayake clarified:
“Section 19 outlines disqualifications for the Director General, including holding a position in a political party during an election. I have disclosed all relevant information to the Constitutional Council prior to accepting this appointment. If Mr. Gunathilaka or Mr. Gammanpila believe I’ve violated this provision, they are welcome to file a formal complaint with the Council.”
Alleged Lifting of Travel Ban on Arjuna Mahendran
Dissanayake also denied claims that he lifted a travel ban on former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran:
“I don’t even recall if Mahendran had a travel ban. What I do know is that, as Fort Magistrate, I issued warrants for Mahendran, Ravi Karunanayake, and others. They challenged those warrants in the Court of Appeal, but the allegations that I lifted any bans are completely false.”
Motives Behind the Allegations
He concluded by emphasizing the broader implications of these attacks:
“The real objective here is clear—they want to destroy the public’s trust in CIABOC. These aren’t just personal attacks; they’re attempts to sabotage the Commission’s work. We’ve decided to treat such actions as insults to the institution and will respond under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act.”
On Filing Defamation Cases
“THERE’S NO CRIMINAL DEFAMATION LAW IN SRI LANKA ANYMORE. I COULD PURSUE CIVIL DEFAMATION, BUT DOING SO WOULD DISTRACT FROM THE COMMISSION’S WORK. OUR PRIORITY IS TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND PURSUE GRAND CORRUPTION CASES, NOT TO CHASE DOWN EVERY BASELESS ACCUSATION.”
Since assuming office in January 2025, Dissanayake has led CIABOC through a renewed anti-corruption drive, including investigations into politically exposed persons and high-profile asset declarations. Despite limited resources—just 169 investigators and 31 legal officers—the Commission continues to process nearly 300,000 asset declarations and pursue cases under the newly enacted Proceeds of Crime law.