According to the Anti‑Corruption Act, the asset and liability declarations of public representatives will be made accessible to the public, while those of non‑public representatives will remain confidential under a new amendment announced in Parliament today.
Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake explained that the government has decided to revise the gazette notification issued last month, which had suspended the publication of asset declarations of public representatives and sparked widespread debate.
The new amendment restores public access to politicians’ declarations but excludes government officials and other non‑representatives to safeguard privacy.
“The Anti‑Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023 was a landmark law. Sections 86 and 88 required top officials and political leaders to disclose their assets and liabilities. Around 300 individuals, from the President downwards, were obliged to provide this information. Initially, it had to be submitted in printed form, later amended to be available online,” Rathnayake said in Parliament.
He emphasized that while transparency is essential for elected representatives, extending the requirement to ordinary state officials could lead to misuse.
“Public representatives are not ordinary officials, so the public is entitled to know their assets and liabilities, as well as those of their relatives. But it is not right for state officials and others to be included. We live in a culture where even good things are used for bad causes. Some low‑level media have harassed individuals who are not politicians, and the Bribery Commission believes privacy must be maintained. Therefore, we have proposed a limit to the amendment,” he said.
Under the revised regulations, the asset and liability declarations of public representatives will remain publicly accessible, while those of non‑public representatives, including government officials, will be excluded.
The government maintains that this balance protects transparency in politics while safeguarding the privacy of state employees. (Newswire)