Sri Lanka's government has announced plans to amend the Anti-Corruption Act to make politicians' asset and liability declarations publicly accessible, marking an effort to enhance transparency in governance.
The government has decided to revise the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023 through amendments to a draft bill issued previously, according to Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake. The proposed changes aim to enable public access to asset and liability declarations submitted by elected representatives and other public officials.
Rathnayake stated that the amendments are intended to strengthen transparency mechanisms governing declarations by those in public office. The existing Anti-Corruption Act already contains requirements for certain categories of individuals to declare their assets and liabilities as part of anti-corruption efforts. The government's move suggests an expansion of these provisions to include public disclosure.
The revised draft legislation is expected to be presented once the necessary amendments have been finalized. The announcement represents a step toward greater accountability and openness in governance, though specific details regarding the scope of disclosures, exemptions, or implementation timelines have not yet been provided.
