Colombo signs UN convention against corruption

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 March 2004, 12:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government on Wendsday ratified the United Nations convevtion against Corruption. Sri Lanka is the second country in the world to ratify the convention,after Kenya.

The Adhoc committee established by the General Assembly of the United Nations to carry out the work of the first United Nations Convention against Corruption completed its negotiations on 1 October last year and this was passed by the United Nations on 31 October last year.

Countries were given until 9 December 2005 to sign the convention. Originaly Sri Lanka was expected to sign it at 19th UN Convention in September 2004. Because the relevant authorities had completed their work ahead of time the Prime Minister instructed Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN to sign the convention on 15th March 2004.