The Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership & Public Policy (BALPP) hosted an open discussion on accountability, public trust and institutional independence in Sri Lanka’s public sector on February 26. The conversation featured Bhavani Fonseka, a constitutional and human rights lawyer and researcher whose work focuses on legal and policy reform, human rights and the rule of law, and Nevanka de Silva Jayatilleke, a political analyst and researcher whose work engages with governance, parliamentary transparency and public accountability.

The discussion examined concerns surrounding the independence of public institutions, mechanisms for holding public officials accountable, and the implications of these issues for governance and public confidence. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of independent institutions in upholding the rule of law and strengthening democratic governance in Sri Lanka.