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New anti-corruption laws: Cabinet to receive draft this month

02 Oct 2022

By Skandha Gunasekara   The draft of new anti-corruption legislation, including new offences such as sexual bribery and money laundering, is to be handed over to the Cabinet by end October. “By the end of the month we expect the draft of the new law to be handed over to the Cabinet of Ministers,” member of the committee drafting the new laws, former Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Sarath Jayamanne, PC told The Sunday Morning. The draft legislation will introduce a number of new offences, including money laundering. “New offenses will also include sexual bribery, private sector bribery, and money laundering,” he added. He said it would also seek to strengthen the CIABOC. “The new law focuses on the efficiency and independence of the anti-corruption commission, introducing new laws and offences, online asset declaration system, and power to recruit qualified investigators.” He stressed on the need for the commission to have the ability to recruit its own officers: “In other countries the commission has the power to recruit various experts they want, but in Sri Lanka the Bribery Commission does not have the power to recruit; instead it has to go to the Public Services Commission, which determines the criteria.” New anti-corruption legislation was one of the main demands of the public as well as Opposition political parties during the recent people’s power protests.  


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