COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Justice has introduced a new controversial anti-corruption bill that would see the creation of an independent commission that is empowered to carry out arrests without a warrant or a magesterial order, for officials who are suspected to have carried out an offence under the proposed anti-corruption act.
The Minister of Justice, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, speaking to News 1st said that the bill was drafted based upon the UN convention against corruption, which has been ratified by Sri Lanka in 2004.
The Minister said that the existing bribery and corruption commission does not have the power that is proposed in the current bill, while it is important to make the commission independent without any political party or any affiliations.
In addition, the Minister said that it has been proposed to dissolve the existing laws with regard to assets and liabilities, which will be included within the proposed bill.