The High Court Bill, that will provide for the establishment of three separate anti-corruption High Courts will be passed in Parliament during the last week of this month or the first week of February,
Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Ajith P. Perera said.
“Once established, these courts will work full time to deal with anti-corruption cases,” the Deputy Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
He said the Treasury Bond issue can also be referred to the anti-corruption High Courts and the case concluded within a few months.
Deputy Minister Perera said it is not easy to eradicate the prevailing corrupt culture in the country. However, in a short period, the National Unity Government had established a system and shown that everyone is equal before the law. Of course, the wrongdoers will have to answer.
“Now it is up to the Attorney General to take action regarding the Treasury Bond issue as he is the supreme authority on prosecution. The Presidential Commission can only make recommendations but prosecuting wrongdoers is entirely within the AG’s purview,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms, Gayantha Karunatilleka told the Sunday Observer that the Presidential Commission report on Bond issuance has clearly proved that this is a Yahapalana Government.
After the Bond issue came up, the Prime Minister appointed a three-member committee to probe it and that committee report was submitted to Parliament. The opportunity was provided to debate the COPE report on the Bond issue in Parliament and that report was referred to the Attorney General to take legal action, he said.
Minister Karunatilleka said later President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a special Presidential Commission to investigate the Bond issue. The Prime Minister voluntarily appeared before this Commission and gave evidence. Therefore, all the investigations and other relevant activities of the Bond issue have been conducted in a very transparent manner.