Cabinet endorses National Agenda for Anti-Corruption
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted its consent to the resolution forwarded by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to pass the anti-corruption agenda as the national agenda for the government on anti-corruption and order all authorities to act according to the said agenda, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said.
He was speaking at the weekly Cabinet media conference held yesterday at the Government Information Department.
With the reign of the present government in July 2022, its pioneer objective has been the enhancement of governing system, eradicating corruption, re-establishing the state finance and sustainability of credits and revival of economy. Accordingly, the foundation for the National Agenda for Anti-Corruption has been prepared across empowering the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 by amalgamating the Anti-Corruption Act (Authority 26), Bribery and Corruption Commission Act No. 19 of 1994 and Assets and Liabilities Statement No. 1 of 1975 to empower the international standards and disciplines such as provisions of the United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption and standards of the Financial Action Task Force.
The preparation of the draft Bill on properties earned from crimes is in the final stage. Accordingly, in par with the report of the legal, organisational and strategic framework for anti–corruption mentioned in the International Monitory Fund’s governing judgmental evaluation’s technical assistance, the followings have been recognised as main active items of the agenda on the anti-corruption.
1.Empowering the Anti–Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023
2. Development of a national anti–corruption plan for the period of 2025–2029.
3. Amendment of the National Audit Act No. 19 of 2018.
4. Establishment of an assets statement and a conflict of interest procedure with productivity and transparency.
5.Introduction of new methodologies for acting in relation to receipts earned from crimes and money laundering.
6. Strengthening case investigation and case filing activities relevant to corruption.
7.Introduction of amendments to the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 and taking other applicable measures so that the legal framework on meaningful ownership can be strengthened.
8.Empowering a state procurement law ensure the transparency of the state procurement.
9. Declaring all companies that receive tax relief through the Strategic Development Project Act No. 14 of 2008 and across the Board of Investment.
10.Suspension of Strategic Development Projects Act No. 14 of 2008 until a clear and a transparent process for evaluation of investment promotion conditions costing and proposal evaluation is declared.
11. Implementation of a reformation policy of entrepreneurship that is under the government.
12. Initiation of short-term anti-corruption procedures within each revenue departments.
13. Establishment of a new management methodology for the Employees Provident Fund.
14. Amendment of laws, regulations and procedures applicable to supervision of finance division in the banking sector and Empowering the Judicial Service Commission.
15. Strengthening the right to information.
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