Anti-corruption Act cannot be implemented - G.L. 

FPC member Prof. G.L. Peiris 

• Says legislation passed in parliament this week has 11 core flaws 
• Claims without their amendment its implementation will not be possible 
• Asks Govt. to re-table bill in parliament for necessary amendments 

Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member Prof. G.L. Peiris claimed yesterday that the Anti-corruption bill, which was passed in parliament this week, cannot be implemented in its current state without amending at least 11 provisions. 

“The Government asserts it is the most comprehensive in South Asia, but the truth is that the Anti-Corruption Act cannot be put into action due to 11 inherent flaws. Without amending these provisions, initiating the implementation of the act is impossible,” he contended.

The MP made these comments at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday. 

Peiris said the Speaker has clarified this in parliament and therefore passing the bill in parliament was a futile exercise.  “It should be re-tabled in parliament, and the essential amendments must be proposed,” he emphasised. 

Peiris noted that these issues are arising due to the failure to follow the proper procedures in the process of drafting laws. He accused the Government of assigning close acquaintances outside the Legal Draftsman’s Department to draft these laws. “We are now experiencing the direct consequences of these actions. The quality of formulating laws in Sri Lanka has dropped drastically. It is a disgrace,” he said. 

The MP said this has now become a habit of the Government, and it is continuously happening, even to the extent of the courts dismissing certain bills because their core foundation is in violation of the constitution as a whole, and it cannot even be rectified during the committee stage.