NPP can't sidestep Anti-Corruption Act: Ex-Justice Minister

Former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, says the National People's Power (NPP) government cannot sidestep Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023.

- SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The former parliamentarian said that the Act made it mandatory for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to disclose the asset declarations of all, regardless of their standing.

The disclosure of NPP Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe having assets worth Rs 275 mn wouldn't have happened if not for the new Anti-Corruption Act approved by Parliament on July 19, 2023, Rajapakshe said.

The ex-Minister said that the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) had, in writing, already requested the CIABOC to ascertain how several NPPers amassed so much wealth.

According to the SJB letter, addressed to Director General of CIABOC, Ranga Dissanayake, they had named Ministers Wasantha Samarasinghe, Sunil Handunetti, Bimal Rathnayake, Nalinda Jayatissa and Punyasiri Jayakody and Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala. “The NPP will have to live with it. CIABOC will also have to ensure that all are treated alike”

Asked to explain the circumstances the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government introduced that Act, Rajapakshe said that in spite of opposition within the parliamentary group, Wickremesinghe gave him the go ahead to introduce three new Acts, namely the Anti-Corruption Act, Regulation of Election Expenditure Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.