Amendments to bribery laws in progress

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Commission to Investigate Allegations on Bribery or Corruption is now in the process of finalising amendments to the outdated laws regarding bribery or corruption and assets and liabilities laws to cover wider areas under the Bribery Act and the Assets and Liabilities Laws

Commissioner Dr. Jayantha Wickremaratne told the Sunday Observer that three committees wereworking on the amendments under the supervision of Deputy Solicitor General and the officers of the Attorney General's Department.

The Commission had observed some of the lapses in the present laws which need amendments to the Bribery Act which was enacted in 1958 and the Bribery Commission Act which came into being in 1994.

He said three committees have been appointed by the Chairman of the Commission in three fields; Bribery, Corrupt practices and the Assets and Liabilities, review the existing laws and propose the relevant amendments.

"Now we are finalising the process and once this is done, they will be submitted to the Secretary to the President, to the Legal Draftsman's Department and then to Parliament", he added.