Sajith promises to establish independent body to retrieve stolen public funds

By Percy Kuruneru

A Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) administration would establish an independent body to take action against those who stole public funds, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said at Medawachchiya recently.Addressing a group of party supporters there, Premadasa said a number of government MPs were making absurd allegations about donations made by the party.

“We are donating buses to schools. An SLPP stooge is implying we are making money out of this. When a philanthropist wants to help a school, through the SJB, we ensure that he or she does not give money to me or anyone in the party. For example, in our initiative where we give buses to schools, the philanthropist makes a payment to the company that sells buses and we take the bus from the company and hand it over to the school,” he said.

Premadasa said that philanthropists had faith in the SJB. Various schools have sought help from his party, Premadasa said.

“Schools make requests to us because they have faith in us. Do they ask for anything from others Opposition parties? The country needs men of action, not empty words,” the Opposition Leader said.

Premadasa added that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was trying to save the Rajapaksa family. The aim of the administration was to allow the Rajapaksas and their associates to keep their ill-gotten gains, he said.

“We will not allow that. Under a future SJB administration, we will establish a non-partisan mechanism to punish the crooks. We will also retrieve the money these people stole from us. President Wickremesinghe has a chance to prove himself. Former head of the CID Shani Abeysekera, who was good at catching crooks is now free of any duties. Wickremesinghe appointed Abeysekera to the CID. He can now ask Abeysekera to investigate those who ruined our country in the last three years. Why doesn’t the President do that? He doesn’t want to revitalise the economy or help people. He wants to save the Rajapaksas,” Premadasa said.