The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is probing several properties, including a hotel and multiple houses connected to public officials, under Sri Lanka’s new Proceeds of Crime Act, Director General Ranga Dissanayake said. He said at least four cases are currently being examined under the law, which empowers the state to confiscate assets if owners cannot justify their source. “Unlike conventional criminal trials that require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, this Act allows for confiscation based on the ‘balance of probabilities.’ Suspects must prove the legitimate origin of their wealth or risk losing it, even without a criminal conviction,” Dissanayake explained. The Proceeds of Crime Act, approved by Parliament on April 8, 2025, represents a landmark development in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption and asset recovery framework. The legislation introduces mechanisms to identify, freeze, seize, and confiscate illicit assets, including in cases where securing a criminal conviction may be difficult. It allows non-conviction-based forfeiture, shifts the burden of proof in certain proceedings, and establishes channels for international cooperation to trace assets hidden abroad. Dissanayake said the Act, which came into effect on June 1 this year, is a highly significant piece of legislation. “As the Director General of the Commission, a massive responsibility rests on my shoulders. We have already commenced several investigations under this Act. It allows us to conduct inquiries more efficiently, focusing on assets rather than solely on individuals,” he said. He said that properties can now be seized under the Act even without a prior criminal conviction. “The public expects the recovery of stolen assets and properties. We urge anyone with information to report it to the Police Criminal Investigation on Derived Property (PCID),” he said. The DG also reminded the public that under the Act, it is an offence for anyone who has knowledge of illicit assets to fail to report it to the police. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) earlier said that this new Act is essential to tackle grand corruption, where stolen wealth is often laundered through complex local and international networks. The focus of the Act is on recovering illicit assets rather than prosecuting offenders, aiming to disrupt the financial rewards of corruption and return stolen wealth to the public. Meanwhile, the Police have already seized assets valued at Rs. 4.5 billion linked to organised criminals through special operations. Confiscated assets include buildings, houses, vehicles, land, gold jewellery, boats, and cash totalling Rs. 57 million, all frozen under the Money Laundering Ac
