Sri Lanka Bribery & Corruption 2016, 3rd Edition

15 Nov 2016

The execution of even the most mundane or menial tasks in Sri Lanka calls for the involvement of state institutions. Accordingly, in a Sri Lankan context, state mechanisms are heavily embedded in the general public’s day-to-day life.

Over the years, the general practice that has been developed by any average citizen is the habit of looking for the so-called “known person” in the event for which they require the urgent attention of a state official or authority in the execution of a particular document or task. Effectively, what this means is that any Sri Lankan’s first stop in the process of getting something done would be to either look for a primary connection, or failing which a secondary connection or link, to an employee in the state service. The higher the rank, the more likely that what is required will be successfully completed.