By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Parliament has approved an anti-corruption bill, aimed at improving governance in the crisis-hit country and meeting requirements linked to a $2.9bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
An Extraordinary Gazette has been issued by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs & Constitutional Reforms Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, pertaining to the new Anti-Corruption Act.
Accordingly, as per the relevant gazette, issued on Friday (08 Sep.), the new Act will be deemed effective from 15 September.
The new Anti-Corruption Act aims to enhance transparency in governance and public confidence in the government, and to establish an independent commission to exercise and perform the powers and functions under the legislation.
It also seeks to give effect to obligations under the UN Convention against corruption and any other international convention on prevention of corruption to which Sri Lanka is a party and recognize international standards and best practices in order to establish a culture of integrity in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at a press briefing regarding the new legislation on Thursday afternoon (07 Sep.), the Minister explained that although the existing laws pertaining to bribery are only applicable to the public sector and politicians, the new Anti-Corruption Act will allow these laws to be enforced against the private sector as well.
He further stated that in the event the current Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is found to have given a wrong verdict or withdrawn certain cases for various reasons, the new Commission is authorized to re-investigate the matters and take due action, by way of the new Act.
The authorities are upgrading the anti-corruption legislation to ensure harmonization with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), supported by IMF CD.
The legislation aims to strengthen the asset declaration system, including the coverage of officials and public access to the declaration results. It also creates a new anti-corruption independent commission with strengthened investigative power.
The draft legislation, which does not cover comprehensive asset recovery provisions, is currently under review by a government review committee before final approval by the Cabinet, with Parliamentary approval expected by June 2023 (structural benchmark).
To ensure full compliance with UNCAC, the draft law should also clearly delineate a transparent and merit-based process for the selection of independent commission members.
Moreover, comprehensive asset recovery provisions in compliance with the UNCAC standard are expected to be developed in consultation with IMF staff and incorporated into a separate draft legislation by March 2024.
In parallel, the authorities will step up efforts to reduce opportunities for corruption by expanding the reliance on digitalization in areas such as revenue administration and procurement.
