On 19 August 2026, the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill, seeking to amend the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, was presented to Parliament by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The Bill proposes amendments to 18 provisions, some intended to correct errors in the Sinhala version and others to provide greater clarity and precision. While Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake stated that the amendments seek to remove provisions that may lead to adverse situations, several proposals warrant serious public attention, particularly their potential impact on freedom of expression and the right to information.
A key concern is the proposed restriction on the use of published, redacted asset declarations. Individuals obtaining such declarations would be permitted to use them only for submission to specified officers or institutions. Any use deemed to violate a declarant’s privacy could result in a fine of up to Rs. 100,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. The provision may discourage journalists, civil society organizations, researchers and citizens from analyzing, publishing, discussing or using asset declaration information for legitimate public-interest purposes. This could particularly affect investigative journalism and public-interest reporting, where asset declarations can help identify conflicts of interest, unexplained wealth and potential corruption. Fear of prosecution may therefore limit public debate and scrutiny of individuals exercising public power.
The amendment also raises concerns regarding the right to information. Public access to asset declarations is intended to strengthen transparency and accountability. Restricting how citizens may use information after lawfully obtaining it risks reducing the practical value of that access. Moreover, the proposed power for the Commission to determine what information may “violate an individual’s privacy” is broad and undefined. Without clear criteria, it could lead to excessive or inconsistent redaction and conceal information relevant to public accountability.
Privacy safeguards must be proportionate and carefully balanced against freedom of expression, the right to information, and the public interest in transparency. Anti-corruption legislation should strengthen, rather than restrict, meaningful public scrutiny, investigative reporting and democratic accountability.