Update: Parliament to debate landmark Anti-Corruption Bill today

The much anticipated Anti-Corruption Bill will be debated in Parliament today (21).

A vote on the bill however, will not take place today after the government informed Parliament that it will take more time to incorporate all the amendments suggested by the Supreme Court to bring the bill in line with the Constitution. In addition the Sectoral Oversight Committee on a Just and Law-Abiding Society too had also submitted amendments to the final draft that needed to be included, it added.

Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayantha said the government would like to postpone a final vote on the bill to a later date. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said they had no objection to the government request provided that the debate on the draft bill is also extended by a further one or two days.

The landmark bill will give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other Internationally recognized norms, standards and best practices.

It is also expected 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, and to direct the institution of and institute prosecutions for offences of Bribery, Corruption and offences related to the declaration of assets and liabilities and other associated offences.

The bill's other stated aims include promoting and advancing the prevention of corrupt practices as well as to educate and raise awareness amongst the public to combat Corruption. 

Once passed, the Anti-Corruption Bill will repeal the Bribery Act (Chapter 26), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act, No. 19 of 1994 and the declaration of assets and liabilities Law No. 1 of 1975. 

Earlier this month, in a 74-page determination on the draft Anti-Corruption Bill, a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, along with Justices Murdu N.B. Fernando, PC and Janak De Silva ruled that certain clauses in the bill were inconsistant with the Constitution. The court however, held that these inconsistancies will cease if the amendments proposed by the SC are introduced into the final draft. 

The court's determination came after a hearing into six fundamental rights petitions which were filed challenging the constitutionality of the draft bill. 

Among some of the highlights of the bill are that the President too will be brought under the scope of the bill. The Attorney General's Department informed the SC during the hearing into the petitions that the State would introduce an amendment during the committee stage to bring the President within the ambit of the law. 

The bill also includes provisions to convict private sector entities committing an offence of bribery.