SJB MP submits a Private Members’ Bill

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne today said he will table in Parliament shortly to amend the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law of 1975 to enable the publishing of assets and liabilities declared by the President, Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs.

The Bill provides for the establishment of an electronic automated asset declaration system to which the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, MPs and public servants are legally bound to submit their assets and liabilities within a specified period of time. The system has to be established by the Commission to investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption. The Bill also provides for the publication of these assets and liabilities in the web site of the commission.

The information that has to be submitted and published includes bank account numbers, title deed numbers, fixed deposit certificate numbers, and any other similar information. In addition a person who is bound to declare assets and liabilities is also called upon to submit an extraordinary declaration if he are she is involved in a transaction which has the effect of varying the net assets and liabilities of such a person by over rupees ten million.

The MP called for a voluntary publishing of assets and liabilities till the bill is enacted in Parliament. “I would like to request the past Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers to publish their assets and liabilities without waiting till the Bill is enacted so that a positive precedent could be created for the Bill to become a success,” the MP said.

Asked whether the Bill would have a retrospective effect, Mr. Wickramaratne said there are no such provisions in his Private Members’ Bill.

“The recent statement of the President in Parliament in which he pledged to bring in anti corruption law is welcomed, but my action to bring in a Bill is to see that his pledge is put into action,” he said. (Yohan Perera)