The government has decided to bring in legislation soon to confiscate property acquired through illegal means.According to Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved to a proposal submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to draft the relevant bill.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department yesterday, the Minister said that the government is bound to bring in legislation for the recovery of assets through illegal means by 2024 as per the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has appointed a committee comprising experts in the field last year to prepare a policy and legal framework and procedure required in relation to properties earned from illegal means.
Based on the committee recommendations the Cabinet granted approval the Legal Draftsman to draft relevant Bill.
Meanwhile Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe yesterday said in Kandy that the proposal to bring laws to confiscate property acquired through commissions, bribes, fraud and bribery has been approved by the Cabinet. Speaking at a press conference in Kandy Rajapakshe said that a number of bills that had not been brought for 25 years were passed in the last two years.
He also emphasised that the best possible decisions will be taken after discussing and agreeing in the Cabinet.
The minister said that becoming the president of Sri Lanka Freedom Party is not a reason to leave or be removed from the Cabinet and there are members of many parties including Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Pohottuwa and UNP.
Ishara Mudugamuwa and Asela Kuruluwansa