Government and Opposition Members of Parliament, on Thursday, attended a roundtable discussion, where they exchanged views on the Anti-Corruption Bill.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) organised the cross-party discussion with the leaders and secretaries of political parties and their representatives on the Anti-Corruption Bill, at the Parliament premises, with the intention of eliciting their support for its improvements and timely passage in Parliament. The MPs were briefed on the required improvements to the legislation which can be incorporated in the Committee Stage (Third Reading) of the Bill. The event was conducted with due regard to and respect for the fact that the Bill is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court.

While agreeing that the proposed Bill had many progressive provisions, which are a timely need in the country, MPs of both the Government and Opposition benches highlighted that the real challenge was to make sure that the anti-graft mechanisms proposed in the Bill would break the existing corruption chain.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam, and SLPP MP Madura Vithanage, attended the discussion, representing the government, while Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, other SJB MPs Eran Wickremaratne, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Mayantha Dissanayake, SLMC Leader MP Rauff Hakeem, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran, PC, and dissident SLPP MPs Dullas Alahapperuma, Chandima Weerakkody and Weerasumana Weerasinghe attended the forum.

TISL Executive Director Nadishani Perera urged the cross-party support to pass the best possible version of the Anti-Corruption law in Parliament, and to create an enabling environment for its full implementation, reminding that it is a call of the people. “Now the responsibility of this Bill is with Parliament and you have a historic opportunity to demonstrate your commitment towards a system change by taking this Bill as an important step to reform the anti-corruption legal framework in Sri Lanka,” she underlined.

Commenting on the new system of the Declarations of Assets and Liabilities (DALs) proposed in the Bill, MPs Chandima Weerakkody and Madura Vithanage pointed out that verifying the information given in DALs is an onerous task that requires a lot of time, coordination and financial investment. TISL Advocacy and Research Manager Janithrika Jayasundara explained that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is allowed to cross-check information in the DALs with other relevant institutions and the electronic system, as suggested in the Bill, should automatically raise red flags on illicit enrichment.

The lack of means to prevent grand collusion in corruption was questioned by Deputy Minister Tharaka Balasuriya. The proposal to establish an Independent Public Prosecutors’ Office was floated by MP Eran Wickramaratne, when TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran pointed out that the Attorney General’s Office withdrawing indictments filed before the Court for criminal offences has become a problematic practice in recent times.

Responding to the issues raised by the MPs, TISL Deputy Executive Director Sankhitha Gunaratne pointed out that the Anti-Corruption Bill does not address the whole gamut of the issue of corruption, but it would be a good start, as the prevailing Anti-Corruption laws in the country are outdated. She pointed out that more legislation, especially for stolen asset recovery and government procurement, would need to be passed after this Bill.

TISL Advocacy and Research Officer Lasanthika Hettiarachchi apprised the MPs on the new offences coming under the purview of the Bill.People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, National Peace Council Executive Director Dr. Jehan Perera and Nishantha Prithiraj of the Sarvodaya Movement, attended the meeting, representing civil society organisations.