News
TISL invites public comments on the proposed Bill on Recovery of Stolen Assets

Large-scale corruption has long plagued Sri Lanka, undermining the country’s economic development and eroding public confidence in the government. Citizens have become increasingly vocal in their demands for justice, transparency and the return of illegally acquired wealth for the benefit of the nation, said a release issued by the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).
It said: The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) aims to provide a legal framework for the detection, seizure, recovery and management of illegally acquired assets hidden offshore, ensuring that perpetrators of corruption are held to account and that stolen property be returned to its rightful owners – the people. of Sri Lanka.
Recognizing the lack of a comprehensive and consistent legislative framework in Sri Lanka for the said purpose, there has long been a call for new legislation. Recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) determinations as part of a structural benchmark necessitated the introduction of legislation on the recovery of stolen assets by March 2024, in line with the standards set out in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
The Ministry of Justice has now published on its official website the ‘Report of the Committee on the Development of the Policy and Legal Framework and Draft Provisions of the Proposed Proceeds of Crime Law’, dated April 10, 2024. The Committee consists of 17 members and headed by Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC.
The report contains a draft bill, consisting of eleven parts, relating to: ‘General provisions and criminal offences; Proceeds of crime investigations, coercive measures and seizures; Judicial freezing of proceeds from crime; Protection, preservation and management of proceeds of crime; Forfeiture proceedings; Civil remedies for crime victims; Proceeds from the Crime Management Authority; Disposal of forfeited proceeds of crime and use of the resulting value; Crime Victims Trust Fund; International cooperation; and miscellaneous provisions’.
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) is concerned that the published report was prepared without any public consultation, which shows the Sri Lankan government’s blatant disregard for consultation with the public and civil society in formulating a major anti-corruption legislation such as the POCA. Designed to recover and manage stolen assets, the POCA is a critical piece of legislation that requires extensive input from various stakeholders, including the public, civil society and local experts, to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with democratic principles to ensure. It is also worrying that the IMF, which provided technical assistance to this process, appears to have tolerated the lack of a proper, transparent and consultative process.
In response to this critical need, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) invites the public to review and provide specific feedback on the proposed law regarding POCA. Such feedback can be submitted via email to tisl@tisrilanka.org with the subject line “Feedback on the Proposed Proceeds of Crime Bill.” While the exact timetable for presenting the bill to Parliament remains uncertain, TISL is committed to forwarding all feedback received to the Ministry of Justice for consideration.
TISL calls on the government to take sufficient time and effectively engage in meaningful dialogue with the public, local experts and civil society actors to ensure that legislation is robust, in line with the Constitution, citizens’ rights upholds and reflects the aspirations of its citizens. the Sri Lankan people and serves as a valuable tool for transparency and accountability.
Latest News
President and representatives of IMF discuss progress of EFF

A comprehensive discussion regarding the progress of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) took place on Thursday (06) at the Presidential Secretariat, between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the IMF delegation.
The current government has already reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the third review regarding the extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of USD3 billion.
The details of this review are expected to be presented to the International Monetary Fund’s Board of Directors by the end of this month. In this regard, discussions were held regarding the progress and the government’s involvement in continuing the program moving forward.
Once the approval is granted by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka is expected to release the fourth tranche of the extended loan, amounting to 333 million dollars.
The discussion was also attended by IMF Executive Director Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Alternate Executive Director Dr. P. K. G. Harischandra, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwadana, and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.
News
New Commanders of the Tri-Forces meet the President

The newly appointed Commander of the Tri-Forces met with Commander-in-Chief, President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Thursday (6th) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, the new Army Commander; Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, the new Navy Commander and Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe, the new Air Force Commander.
Following tradition, the new commanders formally met with the President after assuming their duties. During the meeting, they also presented the President with a commemorative token.
News
Musk reveals ‘crazy waste’ of USAID funds in Sri Lanka

USD 7.9 mn spent on teaching Lankan journalists how to avoid “binary-gendered language”
USAID has spent $7.9 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid “binary-gendered language”, Elon Musk who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said in a post on X on Thursday.
Musk called it a “Crazy waste of your tax money!”
Musk’s criticism came with a detailed breakdown of USAID’s spending across various countries, which he argued reflects misguided priorities. According to a document Musk shared, USAID has funded a range of projects globally, including $20 million for a new Sesame Street show in Iraq, $4.5 million to “combat disinformation” in Kazakhstan, and $6 million to transform digital spaces to reflect feminist democratic principles.
The list also included $1.5 million for art projects promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities and $2 million for sex changes and LGBT activism in Guatemala. $10 million worth of USAID-funded meals, allegedly ended up in the hands of an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, the document states.
Other USAID programmes include $25 million for Deloitte to promote green transportation in Georgia, $6 million for tourism development in Egypt, and $2.5 million to foster inclusion in Vietnam. The documents also pointed to $5 million awarded to EcoHealth Alliance, a group linked to bat virus research at the Wuhan lab, and $20 million for an organisation tied to what Musk described as a “key player” in the Russiagate impeachment inquiry.
Further funds were allocated for various LGBT-related initiatives worldwide, including $5.5 million for LGBT activism in Uganda, $6.3 million for men who have sex with men in South Africa, $3.9 million for LGBT causes in the western Balkans, and $6 million for advancing LGBT issues globally. Additionally, $2 million was allocated to promote LGBT equality through entrepreneurship in Latin America, while $1.5 million was designated for LGBT advocacy in Jamaica.
The data also highlighted spending closer to home, with $1.2 million going to help the African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency in Washington, D.C., build a 440-seat auditorium. A further $1.3 million was provided to Arab and Jewish photographers, while $1.1 million supported an Armenian LGBT group.
Musk criticised other expenditures as well, including $3.9 million for artisanal gold mining in the Amazon and $500,000 aimed at solving sectarian violence in Israel just days before the October 7 Hamas attack.
Attention was also drawn to USAID’s $150 billion “whole-of-agency” climate strategy, which outlines efforts to build an “equitable world” while pursuing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
-
News6 days ago
New Bangalore-Jaffna flights in the works
-
News4 days ago
CID questions top official over releasing of 323 containers
-
News6 days ago
Cardinal says ‘dark forces’ behind Easter bombs will soon be exposed
-
News6 days ago
HRCL reports on Rohingya asylum seekers
-
Features5 days ago
A singular modern Lankan mentor – Part II
-
Features5 days ago
Bharath Rang Mahothsav Parallel Festival in Colombo
-
News6 days ago
Ishadi Amanda makes history as First Runner-Up at 40th Mrs. World Pageant
-
Business7 days ago
Dialog partners with EcoMatcher to launch transparent, tech-driven tree planting in Sri Lanka