COLOMBO – A petition filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) with the Supreme Court challenging the Anti-Corruption Bill, highlighting several key concerns will be taken up for hearing on Friday (12). The petition was filed on Wednesday (10), naming the Attorney General as the Respondent.
In a statement issued on Thursday (11), TISL said while it welcomes the long-awaited Bill, the petition was filed challenging certain provisions of the law, on the basis that they are unconstitutional, taking into consideration that the law must be enacted in accordance with accepted international norms, whilst safeguarding fundamental rights ensured by the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
TISL has challenged 37 Clauses of the Anti-Corruption Bill in total, including clause 28(3), 161 and 119, raising concerns that several provisions of the Bill are disproportionate and could have a chilling effect on whistleblowing, the right to information and the freedom of expression, and could affect the concepts of transparency and accountability.
Attorney-at Law Pulasthi Hewamanna appears for the petitioners with Attorneys-at-Law Githmi Wijenarayana, Fadhila Fairoze, Piumi Madhushani, Harini Jayawardhana, Lasanthika Hettiarachchi and Sankhitha Gunaratne, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Niluka Dissanayake.
-ENCL
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