President proposes death penalty for those who misappropriate government funds & property.

COLOMBO (News 1st) - President Maithripala Sirisena says the death penalty should be imposed on those who misappropriate government funds and property. The president expressed these views at organised by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) held at the Parliamentary complex. The Speaker of parliament and many state sector employees also attended the event. Addressing the event, the president stated that there are a lot of lapses in the current legal framework which causes laws delays in punishing those who are guilty of fraud and corruption. The President continued to say legal proceedings against corruption and fraud never drag on for years on end in other countries. The president also urged the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament to take measures to implement death sentence during his tenure, as he would like to pass the sentence on two or three people before he steps down. Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya addressing the occasion stated that a 2007 survey had revealed that 40% of public funds are wasted due to corruption. Meanwhile, the interim report compiled by the office of missing persons was handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena at the Parliament today by its chairman Presidents Counsel Saliya Peiris. Information collected for over 6 months have been included in the interim report.