Anti-Corruption Bill allows for conviction of private sector entity on bribery offences - SOE

The Anti-Corruption Bill, which aims to give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other Internationally recognized norms, standards, and best practices, and 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 was taken into discussion at the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOE) on Just and Law-Abiding Society.

It was emphasized at the Committee meeting that the Anti-Corruption Bill contains provisions to convict a private sector entity, committing an offence of bribery, which is a history first as it was previously limited to public entities only. Accordingly, a specified business enterprise as defined in section 5 of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Act, No. 15 of 1995 shall be subjected to conviction upon committing any offence under said Bill once enacted.

The said was taken into discussion at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society held today (20) in Parliament, Chaired by Parliamentarian W. D. J. Seneviratne.

Moreover, the Bill also includes provisions to recruit specialist from specified fields for the purpose of investigation not limited to police officers.

Members of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society were of the view that certain provisions of the Bill require amendments to best serve the intention and purpose of the Bill.

The objective of the Anti-Corruption Bill includes the prevention and eradication of bribery and corruption in order to meet the just requirements of the general welfare of a democratic society, enhancing transparency in governance and strengthening integrity of governance and increasing accountability.

It also includes enhancing public confidence in Government and strengthen public participation to eradicate corruption, establishing an Independent Commission, to exercise and perform the powers and functions under this Bill and to carry out the responsibilities imposed thereon under this Bill.

Furthermore, the Bill mandate the said Commission to conduct preliminary inquiries and investigations into, and to prosecute against, bribery, corruption, offences relating to declaration of assets and liabilities and associated offences, to conduct and coordinate educational activities on the prevention of bribery and corruption, introduce an effective system for the declaration of assets and liabilities in order to prevent illicit enrichment by public officials, to promote inter-agency cooperation and international collaboration in preventing bribery and corruption and give effect to obligations under the United Nations Convention against corruption and any other International Convention relating to the prevention of corruption to which Sri Lanka is a party and recognize international standards and best practices in order to establish a culture of integrity in Sri Lanka.

Committee Members Prof. G. L. Peiris, Rauff Hakeem, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Chandima Weerakkody, Thalatha Athukorala, Madhura Withanage, Isuru Dodangoda, K. P. S. Kumarasiri, Jayantha Weerasinghe and Wajira Abeywardana were present at the meeting.