COLOMBO (NewsRadio); The Supreme Court has determined that certain clauses of the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution.
The determination of the Supreme Court was pronounced by Speaker of House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena during the commencement of today’s Parliament sitting.
The Speaker said the Supreme Court had indicated that the inconsistencies in the Bill will cease if the amendments set out in court are made.
During the hearing of the petition filed challenging the bill, the Additional Solicitor General had informed the Supreme Court that amendments to clauses 8 (3), 136, 141, 142 and 156 of the bill will be made in a bid to address the concerns raised by the petitioners.
Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in April tabled the Anti-Corruption Bill in Parliament.
The Bill proposed to give effect to certain provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other Internationally recognized norms, standards, and best practices; 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; to promote and advance the prevention of corrupt practices; to educate and raise awareness amongst the public to combat corruption; to 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 and related matters.
The Bill was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court.
