Sri Lanka Launches $2.5M Anti-Corruption Blitz with Japan & UNDP Backing

by Staff Writer 02-07-2025 | 10:11 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Akio Isomata, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, in the presence of the Minister of Justice, Harshana Nanayakkara, marked the launch of the new project titled ‘The Project for Promoting Prosecution of Corrupt Practices through the Establishment of Anti-corruption Mechanism’ through a signing ceremony on Tuesday (1).

‘The Project for Promoting Prosecution of Corrupt Practices through the Establishment of Anti-corruption Mechanism’ is a 3-year project funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the UNDP in Sri Lanka.

This 2.5 million USD project aims to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance and business practices through effective and institutionalised preventive mechanisms in the public and investment promotion sectors; strengthen institutions to enhance corruption related investigative processes, improve coordination with stakeholders, and ensure quality of prosecutions; and empower citizens to effectively mobilize against corruption and enhance social accountability.

The project also seeks to engage and empower youth, children and journalists to actively contribute to the fight against corruption and promote a culture of integrity.

The overall objective of this Project is to ensure the effective implementation of the activities proposed in the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025-2029 (NACAP), which will contribute to a more transparent, accountable, and resilient society, ultimately leading to a significant reduction in corruption and an enhancement of public trust in institutions. The project seeks to support a whole-of-society approach adopted in the NACAP to respond to corruption engendered barriers which hinder progress and development. Through targeted interventions, the project seeks to support the dismantling of these barriers, facilitating positive change and empowering communities to thrive.