Parliament to debate Anti-Corruption Bill on 8 October after Supreme Court findings

Parliament will take up the Second Reading debate on the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill on Thursday, 8 October, from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., during a four-day sitting running from 6 to 9 October.

The week’s business was settled by the Committee on Parliamentary Business under the chairmanship of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, according to Parliament’s own announcement.

The week

On Tuesday 6 October, members debate two regulations published in Extraordinary Gazettes 2493/36 and 2493/37 under the Foreign Exchange Act, an Order in Gazette 2493/38 under the same Act, and a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act.

Wednesday 7 October carries Questions to the Prime Minister and an Opposition adjournment motion. It is also the day the Appropriation Bill for 2027 is due for its First Reading, ahead of the Budget Speech on 12 November.

Friday 9 October is given over to seven Private Members’ Motions, among them Harsha de Silva on protecting the Diyagama Forest, Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan calling for a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Black July violence of 1983, Chaminda Wijesiri on redress for microfinance victims, and Ravi Karunanayake on depoliticising sports bodies.

What the court found

The Supreme Court determined last month that parts of the Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution. Clause 6(7) — requiring owners, chairpersons and directors of media institutions registered with the Mass Media Ministry, and of entities licensed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, to declare assets and liabilities — needs a two-thirds majority. So does any move to exclude publication of declarations covering people who have lived more than six months with a declarant.

A separate provision barring Magistrates from granting bail for offences created under the Bill, and restricting the High Court’s power to do so, cannot be enacted without a referendum.

One point the accounts differ on

NewsFirst reports that a vote is due at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Neither Parliament’s own announcement nor the Daily FT mentions a vote: both describe the slot from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. as time for Questions at the Adjournment Time. The announcement does not say whether a division will be called.

Not reported

None of the accounts says whether the government will proceed with Clause 6(7) and seek the special majority, amend it, or withdraw it, nor whether the bail clause will be dropped rather than put to a referendum. No time allocation between government and opposition has been published for this debate.