Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament on Thursday that proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act are meant to strengthen its enforcement.
Speaking during the debate on the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill, she said the changes would address practical, institutional and human resource challenges. They would ease recruitment, resolve inconsistencies between the Sinhala and English versions of the law and remove difficulties in implementation.
Amarasuriya said the amendments would also strengthen the means of recovering losses the state has suffered through corruption.
She rejected claims that the changes would weaken anti-corruption efforts. Elected representatives had not been exempted from the requirement to declare assets and liabilities, she said.
The Prime Minister accused the Opposition of misleading the public and of trying to protect a corrupt political culture. She said the government remained committed to recovering misappropriated public funds.
