Sri Lanka needs to effectively enforce laws against bribery and corruption, former Chief Justice says

Former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Sarath N. Silva says that the United Nations Convention against Corruption that was ratified in March 2004 should be enforced by the country in order to create a society free of bribery and corruption.

Silva emphasized the need for the immediate enforcement of laws against bribery and corruption since the country is presently facing a severe debt crisis.

The former Chief Justice made these comments while speaking during the ceremony to launch the anti-corruption organization, the Voice Against Corruption, which was initiated by the Marxist JVP.

Silva observed that the country had an international obligation to effectively implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption since Sri Lanka is the second country that ratified it.

He added that the existing act on investigating allegations of bribery or corruption should be amended enabling the commission to investigate any suspicious incidents.

Silva explained that the existing laws of the commission enabled it to commence investigations only after receiving a complaint, which is a noticeable deficiency in the act.