Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-11-22

Amendment of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act

- The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, No.25 of 2002 provides for the provision of assistance by Sri Lanka to other countries in respect of criminal activities in those countries and vice versa, when combating transnational crime and strengthening of prevention of crime. Considering the recent development standards relevant to this field, concerning identification of money laundering, criminalization of bribery as a mandatory measure to combat corruption as indicated in Article 16 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, criminal offences related to computer systems and data, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, the Minister of Justice to amend the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act reflecting Sri Lanka's international obligations in relation to criminal investigations and confiscation of criminal proceeds, was approved by the Cabinet.