Program Overview 
What is Corruption?
Corruption—the abuse of entrusted authority for private gain—is a serious impediment to economic growth and development. It discourages foreign investment, weakens the competitiveness of exporters, and encourages private firms to engage in illegal and often unfair practices. It diminishes the trust and faith that citizens have in the integrity of their elected leaders. It weakens property rights protection and diminishes the rule of law. It reduces resources available for legitimate governmental investments and programs, often in ways that disproportionately harm the poor and disadvantaged.
Corruption comes in many forms, from the 1,000 rupee “enforcement” of minor traffic violations, to multi-million rupee VAT scams and other sophisticated financial frauds. All kinds of corruption must be addressed, and the great variety of corrupt practices will require an equally comprehensive variety of responses. The ACP training and technical assistance program will introduce modern approaches for dealing with corruption and corrupt practices.
Combating Corruption Through Prosecution and Prevention
Anti-corruption programs require a dual strategy to combat corruption effectively: the investigation and prosecution of wrongdoers must be accompanied by preventive efforts to reduce opportunities for corruption to occur. Preventive measures include the institution of internal controls, timely financial auditing of projects and programs, performance evaluation of project and program effectiveness, greater public participation in project oversight, and creation of a transparent culture of honesty, integrity and accountability in public administration. Both prosecution and prevention strategies must be followed to achieve meaningful results and to re-establish trust and faith in the institutions of government.
Corruption in Sri Lanka is an old and deep-rooted problem that cuts across many sectors of society and government. The ACP can make many positive contributions to the struggle against corruption, but this will only be a start. Overcoming the scourge of corruption will take years, perhaps decades. But it is a struggle that is worth making.
Objectives of USAID’s Sri Lanka Anti-Corruption Program (ACP)
The ACP is structured to address three key objectives, or pillars:
- Increase the efficiency and quality of work performed by the Auditor General’s Department and the Bribery Commission through targeted training and technical assistance.
- Apply ‘best practice’ techniques for citizen and civil society monitoring of governmental activities and projects as a means to achieve greater transparency and accountability in public administration and governance.
- Increase public awareness, facilitate communications, and build a coalition of interested parties (public sector, private sector and NGOs) to combat corruption.
The ACP is funded as part of the $135 million that USAID has earmarked for its Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Fund in Sri Lanka.
