Government Action Plan Tracker

Demand transparency, promote accountability, and help shape the system change.

Welcome to the GAP Tracker, your window into the government’s progress toward stronger governance and accountability. This platform is designed to monitor the Sri Lankan Government’s Action plan of critical reforms called Priority Recommendations outlined in the 2023 IMF-led Governance Diagnostic Report. The tracker will enable and empower citizens and other stakeholders to oversee the government’s implementation of the action plan.

The Government Action Plan, published in February 2024, was developed as a Structural Benchmark (SB) under the second review agreement of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the IMF. It aims to address systemic corruption vulnerabilities in areas of public financial management, tax policies, public procurement, and financial oversight. While implementation of the action plan is the responsibility of the government, this tracker seeks to fill a critical gap by providing an oversight mechanism for its effective implementation. Following the change in administration in 2024, the new government has published an updated version of the Action Plan, which is now the version being tracked through this platform. This plan has several new commitments as well as new timelines for completion.

Through this tracker, created by Transparency International Sri Lanka, you can follow recent updates, explore detailed progress on priority reforms, and see how effectively and meaningfully the government is closing governance gaps and corruption vulnerabilities that impact economic stability and social equity.

We go beyond box ticking —this platform flags delays, identifies policy concerns, assess public access to information regarding commitments, and whether participatory and open governance standards were met, to ensure reforms are effectively implemented and deliver meaningful and sustainable change.

Trial Version in Progress -Please note that this is a trial version of the tracker, and some features are still under development. Stay tuned for updates and await the full version soon!

1. Enact Asset Recovery Law in Line with the UNCAC

Reform Commitment 01

Enact a Comprehensive Asset Recovery Law to harmonize it with the United May, 2025 Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Submission for Cabinet approval and gazetting by Feb, 2025

Implemented : [Link]

Comment: The legal framework and the Bill were drafted without public and adequate civil society consultation, reflecting the absence and lack of will to engage the public and civil society organizations in the policy making and legislative processes. Note: TISL provided feedback on the Report of the Committee, following persistent advocacy and attempts to engage with the Ministry of Justice which materialised due to the assistance received from the UNDP.

2. Enact the Law by May, 2025

Comment: Parliament passed the Proceeds of Crime Act on 08 April 2025. The final Act is yet to be published as there were clerical and translation errors that are to be addressed.

Responsible Institution

Ministry of Justice

Target date

May, 2025

Track impact

2. Amend Companies Act to Introduce Beneficial Ownership Registry

Reform Commitment 02

Finalize and implement regulations to support the provision of beneficial ownership information as required by the Companies Act and establish a public beneficial ownership registry.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Cabinet Approval for the amendment to the Company Act by March, 2025

Implemented

Comments:
1. The previous administration Gazetted a Bill on August 6, 2024, to introduce the registry and law by way of an amendment to the Companies Act of 2007.
2. TISL challenged the Bill on key issues that included exemptions for offshore companies, limited public access, and weakened oversight. The Attorney General agreed to fix several concerns, including ending offshore exemptions. However, elections halted the process, and a new Bill must be re-gazetted by the incoming government.
3. The amendment and provisions for the Beneficial Ownership register were drafted by the previous administration behind closed doors without public or civil society consultation and with no transparency regarding its progress or content, despite TISL’s active efforts to obtain a draft of the law. This process is yet to change.

2. Submit the amendment to the Company Act to the Parliament by May, 2025

3. Issue necessary Regulations by June, 2025

4. Conducting awareness programs for the stakeholders, company secretaries, directors, and shareholders.

5. Maintenance of beneficial ownership information and registry.

Responsible Institution

Ministry of Industries Department of Registrar of Companies

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

3. Enact Public Procurement Law in Line with International Best Practices

Reform Commitment 03

Enact a Public Procurement Law that reflects international best practices.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Draft the Public Procurement Bill and obtain necessary legal clearances by April, 2025

Comments:
1. The drafting of the new procurement law and guidelines has taken place behind closed doors, with no public and civil society consultation or transparency regarding its progress or content. Despite active efforts by civil society organizations, including TISL, to engage, provide feedback, or even ascertain the status of the law, meaningful access and participation have been denied.
2. TISL was invited to a meeting that the NPC held with civil society to present the Procurement Law, at which it was clear that the law was drafted in a manner that it acted as a housekeeping Act for the NPC, rather than a public procurement law that reflects best practices.
3. The NPC have published new procurement guidelines, that TISL has challenged in court for allowing loopholes related to unsolicited proposals.

2. Submit the Public Procurement Bill to the Cabinet for gazetting by May, 2025

3. Enact the Law by June, 2025

Responsible Institution

National Procurement Commission

Target date

June, 2025

Track impact

4. Publish Report on Competitive Tendered Procurement in Low-Competition Agencies

Reform Commitment 04

Publish a report on a designated website on the progress in increasing the proportion of competitive tendered procurement contracts of the 10 agencies determined to have the lowest level of competitive tenders in 2022.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Gather baseline data on procurement where competition is relatively less, number of failed procurements are high and also there are instances of negotiated award of contracts in place of re- tendering by June, 2025.

2. Gather above data for the 2nd half of year 2025 and review data gathered during first 05 months of the 2025 against second 5 months of 2025 to identify, i. Improvement in procurement competition. ii. Reduction in failed procurements. iii. Reduction in negotiated award contracts without re-tendering.

Responsible Institution

Department of Public Finance

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

5. Semi-Annual Publication of Key Public Procurement and Tax Exemption Data

Reform Commitment 05

Publish on a semi annual basis on a designated website (i) all public procurement contracts above Rs. 1 billion, along with comprehensive information in a searchable format on contract award winners; (ii) a list of all firms receiving tax exemptions through the Board of Investment, the SDP and the Port City Act, and an estimation of the value of these tax exemptions; and (iii) a list of firms receiving tax exemptions on luxury vehicle import.

Progress

Key Milestones

i) Published. [Link]

ii) Published. [Link]

iii) Published. [Link]

Update periodically.

Partially implemented

Comment: TISL observed that the Promise.lk website does not contain details of all public procurement contracts above LKR 1 billion, for example during the previous administration, the procurement details of awarding the 484 MW wind power plant in Mannar and Pooneryn to Adani Green Energy Ltd, and details of the procurement process and the contract awarded to VFS Global for handling the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, are examples for which procurement details were are not published. There may be many other contracts that are within the threshold that are going unreported. The new government must address such mishaps for full implementaiton of this commitment.

Responsible Institution

Department of Public Finance, Department of Fiscal Policy

Target date

Jun, 2025

Track impact

6. Review SOE Reform Policy for Improved Transparency & Accountability

Reform Commitment 06

Review SOE Reform Policy with a view to enhance transparency and accountability of SOE management and strategic principles to meet its key objectives.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Appoint a Committee to develop a criteria to list the SOEs under a Holding Company and to review the existing SOE Policy and provide recommendations by end March, 2025.

Partially implemented. A Committee to oversee SOE reform was appointed. [Link]

Comment: No recommendations as outlined in this step of this commitment has been made public.

2. Submit the review report and the criteria to the Cabinet by May, 2025.

3. Draft SOE bill by July, 2025.

4. Enact SOE Act by September, 2025.

5. Form a Holding Company by October, 2025.

6. Identify the entities to be absorbed under the Holding Company by November, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Presidential Secretariat, Department of Public Enterprises, Department of Legal Affairs

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

7. Suspend Strategic Development Projects Act until Transparent Tax Expenditure Criteria Established

Reform Commitment 07

Suspend application of the Strategy Development Projects Act until promulgation of a transparent, rules-based eligibility criteria to increase the accountability and effectiveness of granted tax expenditures and to limit duration for which incentives are granted.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Finalize the proposals for a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative eligibility criteria for SDP projects by March 2025.

Comment: No public reporting on implemenation to assess this.

2. Amend SDP Act and obtain necessary clearances by end May, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Department of
Fiscal Policy

Target date

Aug, 2025

Track impact

8. Cabinet Approval for New National Tariff Policy to Ensure Revenue & Transparency

Reform Commitment 08

Obtain cabinet approval for new National Tariff Policy to ensure revenue optimization, transparency, and accountability including clear rules on eliminating or restricting ministerial authority to introduce tax changes without Parliamentary approval.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Finalize TOR for the Committee on the National Tariff Policy by March, 2025.

Implemented. [Link]

2. Appoint the Committee by March, 2025.

Implemented. [Link]

3. Draft New Tariff Policy in line to the Government Policy by August, 2025.

4. Obtain Cabinet approval by September, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Department of
Fiscal Policy

Target date

Sep, 2025

Track impact

9. Establish Digital Land Information Registry with Public Access

Reform Commitment 09

Establish an online digital land information system and publish on a designated
website.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Establish an online digital land information for 2.4 Mn land parcels system by May, 2025

2. Publish on a designated website May 2025.

3. Rolling-out Plan to include all lands information in the system through integration, digitization and pilots, by Dec, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Ministry of Lands, Surveyor’s General Department

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

10. Implement Governance Reforms in the Justice Sector for Enhanced Oversight

Reform Commitment 10

Establish and implement a plan to modify governance arrangements in the Justice sector to strengthen oversight, monitoring, and proper sector development.

Progress

Key Milestones

Develop an implementation plan with interim milestones for the following JSC’s five institutional objectives
i) Increase the number of courts
ii) Introduce case management across all courts
iii) Advance digitalization in the justice sector
iv) Restructure the JSC Secretariat
v) Establish a mechanism to regularize the Quazi courts.

Responsible Institution

Judicial Service
Commission

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

11. Adjust National Audit Act Regulations to Enforce Surcharges on Non-Compliant Officials

Reform Commitment 12

Make adjustments to regulations implementing the National Audit Act to facilitate the effective levying of fines on officials, including Chief Accounting officers, who fail to fulfill their responsibilities on overseeing and managing the public assets by June 2025.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Draft an amendment by the Legal Draftsman’s Department by March, 2025.

Not implemented.

2. Obtain necessary legal clearances by March, 2025.

Not implemented.

3. Obtain Cabinet approval for Gazetting the amendment by April 2025.

Not implemented.

4. Bill passed by June, 2025

Responsible Institution

Ministry of Justice, National Audit Office

Target date

June, 2025

Track impact

12. Submit Policy Paper on New Management for Employee Provident Fund

Reform Commitment 12

Following a broad consultative process, submit a Cabinet policy paper on options for establishing new management arrangements for the Employee Provident Fund that terminates direct CBSL management.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Appoint a Committee to review the existing nature and management of EPF and to provide recommendations on way-forward mechanism to efficiently manage EPF by April, 2025.

Not implemented

2. Comprehensive review by July, 2025.

3. Submit the Comprehensive study with policy recommendations to the Cabinet by August, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

13. Cabinet Approval for Digital Framework for Public Procurement via e-GP System

Reform Commitment 13

Obtain Cabinet approval to enable digital framework for public procurement of
goods and works through e-GP system.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Establishment of digital platform to carryout Government Procurement of Goods by March, 2025.

Comment: There already exists a digital platform to carryout Government procurement of goods and works – Promise.lk. There is confusion as to the new administration’s intent with this commitment. However, TISL’s concerns on the existing platform outlined above remain.

2. Establishment of Digital platform to carryout Government Procurement of works by June, 2025.

3. Pilot running of e-GP system for the procurement of Goods and Works by Sep, 2025.

4. Establishment of Digital platform to carryout Government Procurement other than Goods and Works by December, 2025.

5. Rollout of e-GP system for Procurement of Goods and works for 10% of Government Entities by December, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Department of
Public Finance.

Target date

Dec, 2025

Track impact

14. Cabinet Approval & Enact Public Asset Management Law for Digital Framework

Reform Commitment 14

Obtain Cabinet Approval and enact Public Asset Management Law enabling to create digital framework for maintaining of non-financial assets of public sector institutions to promote transparency and accountability.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Cabinet Approval for Public Asset Management Bill by March, 2025.

Not implemented.

2. Enact the Public Asset Management Law by July, 2025.

Responsible Institution

Comptroller General’s
Department, Department of Legal Affairs

Target date

July, 2025

Track impact

15. Assess Politician Entitlements & Adopt Annual Disclosure Regulations

Reform Commitment 15

Conduct a comprehensive assessment of entitlements provided to current and former politicians, including the legal framework governing them, and to adopt regulations requiring annual disclose of those benefits to the public which should be subject to regular oversight by Parliament.

Progress

Key Milestones

1. Ensure implementing existing legal provisions of President’s Entitlement Act No 04 of 1986 by Jan, 2025.

2. Issue circular/guidelines to limit staff recruitment and vehicle facilities, fuel allowances, telephone allowances granted to private staff of Ministers and Deputy Ministers by January, 2025.

Implemented. [Link]

3. Restrict / Cut-down the unnecessary expenditures of the Presidential Secretariat by March, 2025.

4. Mobilize the existing state-owned bungalows previously allocated for politicians, for better public purposes.

Responsible Institution

Presidential Secretariat

Target date

May, 2025

Track impact

16. Update and publish the Action Plan on annual basis

Reform Commitment 16

Update and publish the Action Plan on annual basis.

Progress

Key Milestones

Update annually

Responsible Institution

Presidential Secretariat

Target date

Feb, 2025

Track impact

Gazette the rules for appointing CIABOC Commissioners

Reform commitment 01

In line with requirements under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, the Constitutional Council will develop rules for appointing CIABOC Commissioners that will establish an open and transparent process to ensure selected candidates meet the highest levels of professionalism, ethical conduct, and integrity. These rules will be published in the Gazette.

Steps

Implemented. Link: https://www.parliament.lk/files/ads/2023/cc/ciaboc-ad-en.pdf

Institution

Constitutional Council

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec 23

Publish asset declarations

Reform commitment 02

Publication of asset declarations for senior officials (President, Prime Minister, Ministers) on a designated website in line with Anti-Corruption Law.

Steps

01. Create and operationalize the centralized electronic system for the AD system (as per sec 82) before the submission period begins. The system needs to be able to generate a redacted version of ADs as per sec 88.

Issue 1: Not fully implemented – only a temporary measure is in place through a portal on the CIABOC website, allowing access to uploaded PDFs of asset declarations. However, the information is not machine-readable, and the declarations are not maintained in a centralized electronic system.

The lack of a centralized electronic system and non-machine-readable format significantly hampers the usability and accessibility of asset declarations, making it difficult to analyse or detect discrepancies efficiently. This undermines the effectiveness of the asset declaration process as a tool for ensuring accountability and transparency.

https://ciaboc.gov.lk/media-centre/latest-news/1278-public-access-opened-to-asset-declarations-of-election-candidates

https://ads.ciaboc.lk/

Issue 2: The CIABOC has excessively and arbitrarily redacted crucial information from asset declarations, such as bank balances, account opening dates and names of children, which goes beyond what is mandated by the Anti-Corruption Act. This undermines the transparency and effectiveness of the asset declaration system. Additionally, CIABOC’s unnecessary requirement for an email address for identity verification creates barriers to public access.

https://www.tisrilanka.org/tisl-urges-ciaboc-to-reconsider-the-unwarranted-redacting-of-asset-declarations-to-the-public/

https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-publish-rules-to-appoint-anti-corruption-commissioners-imf-report-143961/

02. Draft a circular elaborating the submission process (completed) Define in regulations or as part of the circular the type of officials required to submit ADs.

Implemented. Link: https://www.ciaboc.gov.lk/images/asset_declaration_formats_website/Asset_Circular_ENG_Singed.pdf

03. Develop the asset declaration form template to be used by public officials. Publish the template on the centralized electronic system for the public to consult.

Partially implemented. A template was created and published on the CIABOC website. However, not published on the centralised electronic system as the system is not developed.

Institution

CIABOC

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

June ‘25

Enact proceeds of crime legislation

Reform commitment 03

Enact proceeds of crime legislation that is fully aligned with UNCAC and FATF standards.

Note: The Proceeds of Crime Bill was gazetted by the ninth parliament in September 2024, shortly before the parliamentary elections held on November 14, 2024. Following the elections, the new government has expressed interest in advancing an improved version of the Bill into legislation.

Steps

01. Submission of the Report of the Committee to develop the Policy and Legal Framework of the proposed Law on Proceeds of Crime by the end of February.

Implemented. Link: https://www.moj.gov.lk/images/2024/Legal/Propossed-law-on-Proceeds-of-crime.pdf

02. Preparation of Final Draft by the Legal Draftsman by mid-March.

03. Issuance of Certificate of Constitutionality for the Final Draft by end March.

04. Submission for Cabinet approval and gazetting by end-March.

Note 01: Steps 2-4 were not implemented by the deadlines; however, they were implemented with delay as the Proceeds of Crime Bill was Gazetted in September 2024.

Note 02: The legal framework and the Bill were drafted without public and adequate civil society consultation, reflecting the absence and lack of will to engage the public and civil society organizations in the policy making and legislative processes. This opaqueness undermines transparency and inclusivity and the ability to create a robust law. It is noteworthy to state that TISL has provided feedback on the Report of the Committee, following persistent advocacy and attempts to engage with the Ministry of Justice which materialised due to the assistance received from the UNDP. Limited feedback provided by TISL and Verité Research alone do not qualify as effective CSO and public consultation.

Institution

Ministry of Justice

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

April ‘24

Implement beneficial ownership law and establish a public BO registry

Reform commitment 04

Finalise and implement regulations to support the provision of beneficial ownership information as required by the Companies Act and establish a public beneficial ownership registry.

Steps

01. Drafting and Submission of Regulations to Cabinet and Parliament.

Not implemented.

02. Development of eRoC online system accordingly.

Not implemented.

03. Conducting awareness programs for the stakeholders, company secretaries, directors, and shareholders.

Not implemented.

04. Maintenance of beneficial ownership information and registry.

Not implemented.

Note: The establishment of a beneficial ownership registry has not been implemented, the ninth parliament Gazetted a Bill on August 6, 2024, to introduce the registry and law by way of an amendment to the Companies Act of 2007.

TISL challenged the Bill, citing critical concerns that undermine the effectiveness of the Beneficial Ownership Registry sought to be introduced. Key concerns included exemptions for offshore and overseas companies, allowing shell companies to evade disclosure, and limiting public access to information to only names and ownership extent, which weakens transparency, accountability, and public oversight. TISL called for stronger measures to ensure the registry deters corruption and enables oversight and scrutiny. During the hearing, the Attorney General agreed to address several concerns of TISL Petition including eliminating the exemption granted to offshore and overseas companies. However, the presidential and parliamentary elections that followed have terminated the hearing, and a fresh Bill is required to be re-gazetted by the new government to implement this reform.

As with other policies and legislation, this process was also shrouded in opacity. The amendment and provisions for the Beneficial Ownership register were drafted behind closed doors without public or civil society consultation and with no transparency regarding its progress or content, despite TISL’s active efforts to obtain a draft of the law.

Institution

Ministry of Industries Department of Registrar of Companies

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Sept ‘24

Enact a Public Procurement Law

Reform commitment 05

Enact a Public Procurement Law that reflects international good practice.

Steps

01. The National Procurement Commission (NPC) has already initialized drafting of the Procurement Law with ADB assistance.

02. NPC has confirmed two local consultants have already been hired and another foreign consultant to be hired with ADB assistance to draft the law.

03. Plan is to have the first draft ready by end June, 2024 and subsequent to stakeholder consultations and LD/AG clearance to submit the draft Bill to Parliament by 31st December, 2024 as agreed with IMF.

Note: The drafting of the new procurement law and guidelines has taken place behind closed doors, with no public and civil society consultation or transparency regarding its progress or content. Despite active efforts by civil society organizations, including Transparency International Sri Lanka, to engage, provide feedback, or even ascertain the status of the law, meaningful access and participation have been denied.

Institution

Ministry of Finance

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec ‘24

Publish report on increasing competitive tendered procurement contracts

Overall Progress

Reform commitment 06

Publish report on a designated website on progress in increasing the proportion of competitive tendered procurement contracts in the 10 agencies determined to have the lowest level of competitive tenders in 2022.

Steps

Action has been already taken to identify 10 agencies with lowest competitive tenders with the value of annual procurement in excess of Rs. 1 Billion. IMF Technical assistance is sought to decide on the information that has to be published in the MOF website.

Not implemented.

Institution

Ministry of Finance

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec ’24

Publish all public procurement above LKR 1B, award winners and tax exemptions

Reform commitment 07

Publish on a designated website: (i) all public procurement contracts above LKR 1 billion, along with comprehensive information in a searchable format on contract award winners; (ii) a list of all firms receiving tax exemptions through the Board of Investment and the SDP, and an estimation of the value of the tax exemption; and (iii) a list of firms receiving tax exemptions on luxury vehicle import. Information to be updated every 6 months.

Steps

(i) Partially Implemented. Link: https://promise.lk/?p=public_cont&a=view_proc_awarded_public

Note: It was observed that the Promise.lk website does not contain details of all public procurement contracts above LKR 1 billion, for example, the procurement details of awarding the 484 MW wind power plant in Mannar and Pooneryn to Adani Green Energy Ltd, and details of the procurement process and the contract awarded to VFS Global for handling the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, are examples of procurements comprehensive details of which, are not published in this platform. There may be many other procurements that are within the threshold albeit not reported.

ii) Implemented. Link: https://www.treasury.gov.lk/web/tax-certificatesissued-under-boi

iii) Implemented. Link: https://www.treasury.gov.lk/web/luxury-taxexemptions

Institution

Constitutional Council

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec 23

Implement the SOE Reform Policy

Reform commitment 08

Implement the SOE Reform Policy, ensuring that the holding company (HoCo) and the advisory committee are comprised of skilled, independent, and ethical staff.

Steps

01. SOE Reform Policy approved by Cabinet in May 2023.

Implemented. Link: https://www.treasury.gov.lk/web/sru/section/divestitures

02. Public Commercial Business (PCB) Act drafted and awaiting Parliamentary approval.

Not implemented.

03. Registration of HoCo and appointment of its Advisory Committee and Board of Directors to take place once PCB Law has been approved.

Not implemented.

Institution

Ministry of Finance

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

May ‘24

Abolish or suspend application of the Strategic Development Projects Act

Reform commitment 09

Abolish or suspend application of the Strategic Development Projects Act until promulgation of explicit and transparent process for evaluation of proposals and costing of investment promotion conditions.

Steps

No further exemptions will be granted under the SDP Act.

Not implemented.

Institution

Board of Investments (BOI) Office of the President

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Until Promulgation of new provisions (as per GAP)

Amend tax legislation to eliminate or restrict ministerial authority

Reform commitment 10

Amend tax legislation to eliminate or restrict ministerial authority to introduce tax changes without prior parliamentary approval and ensure that such changes do not generate revenue losses.

Not implemented.

Steps

01. The government has already initiated a new National Tariff Policy (NTP) which will outline the way forward on border taxes including CID, SCL and other measures which are subject to ministerial authority.

02. Following the approval of the NTP by the Cabinet, MoF will review the legislation pertaining to these measures.

03. Provisions enabling unfettered ministerial authority will be reviewed during this process with a view to introducing checks and balances which strike a balance between appropriate consultation, prevention of market manipulation, ensuring revenue protection, and reducing corruption vulnerabilities.

Institution

Ministry of Finance

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Continuous

Revise legislation, regulations, and process on financial sector oversight in the banking sector

Reform commitment 11

Revise legislation, regulations, and process relating to financial sector oversight in the banking sector, including strengthening corporate governance for banks with government ownership by improving the selection of executives and Board members.

Steps

Enactment of the Banking Act to include inter alia provisions to strengthen corporate governance in the banking sector, including the assessment of fitness and propriety of directors, CEO’s and Key Management Personnel.

Implemented.

Note: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) implemented the Banking (Amendment) Act, No. 24 of 2024, effective from 15 June 2024.

Link : https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/sites/default/files/cbslweb_documents/press/pr/press_20240628_implementation_of_the_banking_amendment_act_no_24_of_2024_e.pdf

Institution

Central Bank of Sri Lanka

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

March ‘24

Establish a digital land registry, and publish progress on State land registering/titling

Reform commitment 12

Establish an online digital land registry, and publish, on a designated website, report on progress in implementing published Plan for registering/titling all state land.

Steps

01. Title Registration: Preparing BPR/SRS report, selecting vendor, implementation.

Not implemented.

02. Land Registration: Implementation of eLand System, maintenance.

Partially implemented.

Link: https://www.rgd.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31&Itemid=246&lang=en

Institution

Ministry of Lands

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec ‘24

Implement a plan to enhance resources and skills of the Judicial Services Commission

Reform commitment 13

Establish and implement a plan to expand the resources and skills available to the Judicial Services Commission in order to enhance their ability to carry out their function and define potential options for modifying governance arrangements in the Justice sector to strengthen oversight, monitoring, and proper sector development.

Not implemented.

Steps

01. Establish a separate unit to collect and update court statistics.

02. Increase number of courts to ensure speedy disposal of cases.

03. Introduce case management and court management to all courts.

04. Establish separate units to attend to public petitions and disciplinary matters.

05. Introduce a digital solution to ensure all judgements are uploaded into a system.

06. Constant supervision of the functioning of courts.

07. Establish separate units to attend to the functions of High Courts, District and Magistrates Courts, Labour Tribunals.

08. Establish an Audit Unit to attend to case audits, production audits, etc.

09. Attend to HR management of courts staff through an automated system.

10. Attend to complaints against staff expeditiously.

11. Hold recruitment examinations continuously.

12. Attend to general staff administration matters expeditiously.

13. Establish a prosecution arm to attend to the prosecution of disciplinary matters.

14. Develop a database of all disciplinary matters.

15. Evaluate the performance of Quazis.

Institution

Ministry of Lands

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec ‘24

Amend the National Audit Act to enable accountability

Reform commitment 14

Amend the National Audit Act to enable the Auditor General to levy surcharges on officers, including chief accounting officers, for failure to properly discharge responsibility for oversight and accountability for use of public resources.

Not implemented.

Steps

01. Convening a meeting between Ministry of Finance and Auditor General’s Department, Attorney General’s Department, Presidential Secretariat, and Inspector General of Police (12th of Feb).

02. Proposals of amendments made by Auditor General.

03. Seeking approval of Presidential Secretariat on cabinet policy paper.

04. Granting of draft amendment approval by Cabinet.

05. Drafting of amendments by Legal Draftsman’s Department.

06. Review and certification of amendments by Attorney General.

07. Gazetting of amendments.

08. Presenting Amendments to Parliament for approval.

Institution

IMF-GDA rec.

CSO GDR rec.

Completion date

Dec ‘24

Despite the fact that the IMF sets out 16 Priority Recommendations in its Governance Diagnostic Report, the GAP only reflects 14 recommendations.

The 2 recommendations which are not included in the GAP are;

Ministry of Finance to institute a short-term anti-corruption measure within each revenue department to strengthen internal oversight and sanctioning processes and linkages with CIABOC and related criminal investigation and enforcement processes by Dec 2023 and issue a public report on steps taken and results obtained by Dec 2024.
Following a broad consultative process, the Ministry of Finance to produce a Cabinet policy paper by June 2024 on options for establishing new management arrangements for the Employee Provident Fund that terminates direct CBSL management.