Lahiru Pothmulla Courtesy The Daily Mirror

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today said, under a government established by the SLPP, it will restructure laws to address pressing issues including underworld activities, drug smuggling and undeclared funds flowing in from foreign countries.

SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said a new SLPP government, backed by a two-thirds majority obtained at the general elections, would not hesitate to immediately attend to key identified issues.

He said all foreign funds flowing in should go through the External Resources Department at the Central Bank in order to ascertain their origin.

It is vital to find out who is sending funds, for what purpose and where these funds would end up. The current situation is not satisfactory in this regard. Procedures are not strong enough,” he said.

He said underworld figures and those involved in drug smuggling are using bank accounts registered under proxies when they transfer funds obtained illegally.

This has priority in our agenda. We will monitor transactions of underworld figures. We will also enter into or revisit extradition agreements and share information with other countries to take legal action against foreigners and Sri Lankans in foreign countries involved in drug smuggling,” Prof. Peiris said.

Meanwhile, he said there was maximum punishment for drug smuggling but no minimum punishment. A minimum punishment for drug smuggling is also required to deter drug smuggling,” he said.

Laws and regulations are needed to ensure transparency in transactions related to lands and properties, he said. These are pressing issues but not impossible to solve,” he said.