SJB to embark on preparing laws to put an end to theft, fraud and corruption: Eran

SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne on the issues of taking the country forward spelled out the remedies being taken by the main Opposition to end crisis in the country.

"We are going to bring in amendment to the Assets and Liability Declaration Law to make them publicize. We are going to have an independent Bribery Commission We are not waiting till take the office, a new law for these has already been worked out," he said.

As the SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has said that the Opposition is already on introducing a new law to regain the proceeds of the crime and ill- gotten wealth of politicians and others. "We have already started working on those laws now so that we will recover everything in the near future,"

Mr Eran Wickramaratne delivered a speech at the “Forward together for the Nation the special forum of the National Council of Professionals held yesterday (24) at the BMICH.

Speaking further Mr Wickramaratne emphasized that the country needs political stability, a system stability and we are very conscious of it and that is why have acted responsibly even in this crisis allowing the government to go for conversation with the IMF and succeed. That is how we have acted as an Opposition, he said.

"We need an independent judiciary. Presently the Attorney-General has a conflict of interest. When cases are instituted under one government, in the case of change of a government the AG withdraws the cases he himself indicted. The AG is the lawyer for the government is power. As a remedy we will have an independent prosecutor’s office. We are not allowing the people to just get away with these things," he said.

Referring to level of corruption the MP said that when the first expressway was built one KM cost 7 million dollars. In the last transaction which was publicized very widely, one km is to cost 70 million dollars. A kilometer on the southern expressway cost 7 million dollars while the central expressway cost will be 70 million dollars.

“We have to put this right as we have lots of issues with corruption," he said

When the topic of FDI and Capital investment was suggested, he asked whether any one can imagine talking of FDI in the present context in the country.

"Our stock market was closed for a week, the country is bankrupt. Actually, if this country is to advance the country needs at least $ 5 billion a year. This is not the emergency money that we need to get over the present crisis but actually to see the economy grow and boom. How do we actually get this?," asked Mr. Wickramaratne.