Failure to declare assets: TISL files complaint against 8 ministers

The Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has filed a complaint with the Bribery Commission today against eight Cabinet ministers for failing to declare their assets and liabilities.

The eight Ministers are: Sajith Premadasa, Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Navin Dissanayake, Harin Fernando, Mano Ganesan, M.H.A. Haleem and Gayantha Karunathilaka.

In a statement, the TISL said the complaint was made based on information obtained through the Right to Information Act.

“The information showed that eight Cabinet ministers had not submitted their declarations of assets and liabilities for 2018/19, as of August 20, 2019. Cabinet ministers are required to submit their declarations to the Presidential Secretariat under section 4 (a)(ii) of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law. However, according to the Presidential Secretariat’s response to an RTI application filed by TISL on 28 August 2019, eight Cabinet ministers had not submitted their asset declaration as at 20 August 2019,” it said.

The TISL said that the non-declaration of assets and liabilities amounts to an offence punishable by a fine not exceeding Rs.1000 and/or a prison term of up to one year.

Following the filing of the complaint, TISL Executive Director Asoka Obeyesekere said, “whilst several members of parliament have already gone beyond legal requirements to publicly disclose their asset declarations (available at www.tisrilanka.org/MPassets), it is important that those who have neglected their responsibility are held to account”.

Obeyesekere added, “TISL has also requested the same information from the Presidential Secretariat and the Office of the Speaker, to identify non-Cabinet, state and deputy ministers and members of parliament who have not submitted their asset declarations and we will be taking appropriate action when such information is received”.

TISL requested the Bribery Commission to exercise its powers to ensure that this complaint is investigated and that prosecutions are undertaken where necessary.