Parliament to debate Anti-Corruption Bill on June 21

The Parliamentary Business Committee has decided to debate the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill in Parliament on June 21.

The decision was taken when the committee convened under the patronage of Speaker of House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
 

Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in April tabled the Anti-Corruption Bill in Parliament.

The Bill proposed to give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other Internationally recognized norms, standards, and best practices; to provide for the establishment of an Independent Commission to detect and investigate allegations of bribery, corruption and offences related to the declaration of assets and liabilities and associated offences, and to direct the institution of and institute prosecutions for offences of Bribery, Corruption and offences related to the declaration of assets and liabilities and other associated offences; to promote and advance the prevention of corrupt practices; to educate and raise awareness amongst the public to combat corruption; to repeal the Bribery Act (Chapter 26), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act, No. 19 of 1994 and the declaration of assets and liabilities Law, No. 1 of 1975 and related matters.

The Bill was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court then determined that certain clauses of the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution.