Courtesy The Daily Mirror

A total of USD 56 billion has been parked abroad by powerful persons during the past few years, Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapaksha informed Parliament today.

A sum of USD 9 billion has been parked this year alone,” the Minister said.

 I propose a special motion to order these persons to bring back their money which is parked abroad. There are some secretaries of some MPs who have parked more than USD 150 million each,” the Minister revealed.

It will be possible to settle all debts which Sri Lanka owes other nations if these parked funds are brought back,” he added.

Also he slammed the Constitutional Council for its alleged failure to nominate members to the Bribery Commission.

The Constitutional Council is bound to send in its nominees to the Bribery Commission to the President as per the newly enacted Anti-Corruption Bill. 

There is an error in the legislation where the word ‘Constitutional Board’ is mentioned instead of Constitutional Council in some areas. However, the correct wording is mentioned in the section where the appointment of members to the Bribery Commission is stipulated. Therefore there is no reason for the Constitutional Council to send in its nominees to the Bribery Commission. Are the members of the Constitutional Council asleep?” he questioned while highlighting that he would mobilise the people against the Constitutional Council.

The Constitutional Council is headed by the Speaker, while it comprises the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and their nominees, while there are three members from civil society. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)