The main Parliamentary Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is to vote against the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill if the Government is not prepared to make the amendments they proposed, The Daily Morning learnt.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (19), SJB Chief Organiser and Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake said that a committee comprised of Opposition MPs headed by MP Chandima Weerakkody will submit its proposals to the Government in this regard.

He further said that the SJB and other Opposition parties working together have identified multiple loopholes in the proposed legislation and that no one representing the joint Opposition will vote in favour of the Bill unless those amendments are done. “The joint Opposition has appointed a committee to look into the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill. They will hand over a list of amendments for the Bill. Mainly, we have identified a lack of provisions to prosecute people connected to corruption. There are only provisions to prevent corruption which is not sufficient,” he added

Attanayake also said that the final decision on their vote will be dependent on the reaction of the Government to their proposals.

Meanwhile, several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact National People’s Power (NPP) MPs Vijitha Herath, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and former MP and incumbent Executive Committee member of the NPP Sunil Handunnetti proved futile.

Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said on 18 June that the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill is to be tabled to the Parliament tomorrow (21) for the second reading. Semasinghe also said that it is the responsibility of every MP to vote in favour of the Anti-Corruption Bill as it would enhance financial transparency and the ease of engaging in a business. “The most awaited Anti-Corruption Bill is to be tabled to the Parliament. We hope that it will be passed by the Parliament. It is the responsibility of every MP to vote in favour of the Bill,” he said.