MPs can declare assets online under Anti-Corruption Act
Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said in Parliament yesterday that MPs and others will be able to declare their assets and liabilities through online methods in the future. The Minister said this while presenting three regulations under the Judicature Act in Parliament yesterday.
“We have included bribery, corruption, declaration of assets and liabilities in this Act. Through the implementation of this Act, three Acts that have been in force until now were abolished. Accordingly the Bribery Act No. 11 of 1954, the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission Act No. 19 of 1954, and the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act No. 01 of 1975 have been repealed.
“By abolishing all these three acts, the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 has been presented and the scope of bribery and corruption has been expanded. In addition to bribery, the word ‘corruption’ has been introduced with a wide interpretation. Many new offences have been included in this Act, while soliciting sexual bribes as well as bribe-taking in the private sector have been newly introduced.
“After the implementation of this Act, the President, Governors, members of independent commissions, high commissioners, and even officials in the diplomatic service, who were not required to provide declarations of assets and liabilities earlier, have been newly included into this Act. Anyone can declare their assets and liabilities online in the future. If there is a sudden increase in someone’s assets, such people will be automatically identified through this system. The system is currently being prepared with foreign support. Power has also been given to confiscate property obtained by a person through bribery or corruption. If a person goes to a foreign country and invests money there, the Court has been given authority to bring those people back to this country,” Minister Rajapakshe said.
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