• Bill on Budget Office to P’ment in May

The Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Counsel (PC) Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday (30) that the new Anti-Corruption Bill would help meet the economic goals which have now collapsed with the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, and would also encourage the international business community that wishes to invest in the country.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, he also said that the new Anti-Corruption Bill would strengthen fiscal transparency in the country so that such will be an assurance to the international business community and financial organisations that are willing to help Sri Lanka.

“We know that the anti-corruption policy of a party plays a major role in an election. Since 1994, this matter has become the most attractive election slogan. Even the first Bill which was enacted after the General Election in 1994 was the Bribery Act. So, every Government has brought various laws against corruption by any means which have however not been successful in eradicating corruption from the State bodies. Even in 2015, when I was the Minister of Justice, we brought various new laws into the system. For example, we established the Procurement Commission and the National Audit Commission in order to strengthen the anti-corruption mechanism. Therefore, we have enough rules and regulations but the problem is that they are not being carried out well,” he said.

He further noted that the new Anti-Corruption Bill contains rules and regulations which would make Government procedures more transparent than ever, adding that such would help in making a transparent public service.

“The most number of acts of corruption and fraud take place during the procurement process. That is why we established the Procurement Commission and the National Audit Commission to look into these acts of corruption taking place in the procurement process. In this Anti-Corruption Bill, we have included provisions paving the way to make a new mechanism that supports these Commissions. We have also appointed a new committee chaired by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda PC to make new laws regarding how we should act in accordance with the assets related to corrupt deals. All these laws will prevent both public and private institutions from becoming corrupt,” he noted.

He said that the International Monetary Fund has requested the Government to establish a Budget Office in the Parliament in order to keep proper records on how Government revenue has been spent. He also said that the said Bill will be tabled in the Parliament in May.

President and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ranil Wickremesinghe said last week that the necessary steps will be taken to pass the best Anti-Corruption Act in South Asia in the Parliament soon.