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TISL invites public comments on the proposed Bill on Recovery of Stolen Assets
Large-scale corruption has long plagued Sri Lanka, undermining the country’s economic development and eroding public confidence in the government. Citizens have become increasingly vocal in their demands for justice, transparency and the return of illegally acquired wealth for the benefit of the nation, said a release issued by the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).
It said: The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) aims to provide a legal framework for the detection, seizure, recovery and management of illegally acquired assets hidden offshore, ensuring that perpetrators of corruption are held to account and that stolen property be returned to its rightful owners – the people. of Sri Lanka.
Recognizing the lack of a comprehensive and consistent legislative framework in Sri Lanka for the said purpose, there has long been a call for new legislation. Recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) determinations as part of a structural benchmark necessitated the introduction of legislation on the recovery of stolen assets by March 2024, in line with the standards set out in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
The Ministry of Justice has now published on its official website the ‘Report of the Committee on the Development of the Policy and Legal Framework and Draft Provisions of the Proposed Proceeds of Crime Law’, dated April 10, 2024. The Committee consists of 17 members and headed by Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC.
The report contains a draft bill, consisting of eleven parts, relating to: ‘General provisions and criminal offences; Proceeds of crime investigations, coercive measures and seizures; Judicial freezing of proceeds from crime; Protection, preservation and management of proceeds of crime; Forfeiture proceedings; Civil remedies for crime victims; Proceeds from the Crime Management Authority; Disposal of forfeited proceeds of crime and use of the resulting value; Crime Victims Trust Fund; International cooperation; and miscellaneous provisions’.
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) is concerned that the published report was prepared without any public consultation, which shows the Sri Lankan government’s blatant disregard for consultation with the public and civil society in formulating a major anti-corruption legislation such as the POCA. Designed to recover and manage stolen assets, the POCA is a critical piece of legislation that requires extensive input from various stakeholders, including the public, civil society and local experts, to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with democratic principles to ensure. It is also worrying that the IMF, which provided technical assistance to this process, appears to have tolerated the lack of a proper, transparent and consultative process.
In response to this critical need, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) invites the public to review and provide specific feedback on the proposed law regarding POCA. Such feedback can be submitted via email to tisl@tisrilanka.org with the subject line “Feedback on the Proposed Proceeds of Crime Bill.” While the exact timetable for presenting the bill to Parliament remains uncertain, TISL is committed to forwarding all feedback received to the Ministry of Justice for consideration.
TISL calls on the government to take sufficient time and effectively engage in meaningful dialogue with the public, local experts and civil society actors to ensure that legislation is robust, in line with the Constitution, citizens’ rights upholds and reflects the aspirations of its citizens. the Sri Lankan people and serves as a valuable tool for transparency and accountability.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
