News

Corruption on the march: Eran calls for ‘Office of Prosecutions’ independent of AG

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

“Ashamed of failure to ensure punitive measures in respect of 2013 SriLankan Airlines deal’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne says Sri Lanka should have an Office of Prosecutions independent of the Attorney General (AG). Such an apparatus can inspire public confidence at a time the rationale behind the dismissal of a spate of high profile cases is being questioned, the SJB National List MP points out.

In a brief interview with The Island, the former UNPer and one-time banker emphasised the responsibility on the part of Parliament to take tangible measures in this regard.

Referring to the withdrawal of many high profile cases filed by the AG and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) since the last presidential election in 2019, MP Wickramaratne said that such actions caused controversy and drastically undermined public confidence. Therefore, political parties represented in Parliament should seriously consider ways and means of reaching a consensus on an Office of Prosecutions, the former State Finance Minister said. Wickramaratne served as the late Mangala Samaraweera’s Deputy during the 2017-2019 period. “There is a clear case of conflict of interest in some instances as the AG is the Chief Legal Officer of the government,” the MP said.

Wickramaratne received the State Finance portfolio a year after the second Treasury bond scam perpetrated by the then UNP government after the Central Bank was brought under the then PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Responding to another query, Wickramaratne, who first entered parliament in 2010 on the UNP National List, acknowledged that his previous efforts to convince his parliamentary colleagues to consider an Office of Prosecutions hadn’t been successful. “The situation is so bad, I sincerely hope all political parties recognise the need to strengthen the system. Parliament is responsible for financial discipline and enactment of laws. Therefore, Parliament should address this matter,” Wickramaratne, who served as Deputy Minister of Investment Promotions and Highways before being appointed State Finance Minister, said.

Wickramaratne successfully contested the Colombo district at the 2015 general election. He switched his allegiance to the breakaway SJB in early 2020 in the wake of the split in the UNP. The former CEO of the National Development Bank entered Parliament for the third consecutive time in 2020 through the SJB National List.

Top SJB spokesperson said that the country urgently required an efficient system free of political interference to tackle major cases. The lawmaker said that the unprecedented scam in what he called sugar duty fraud perpetrated in Oct 2020 just two months after the general election underscored the need for examination of the whole system. Declaring that it hadn’t been an ordinary scam, MP Wickramaratne pointed out how a gazette bearing 2197/12 issued by the Finance Ministry on Oct 13, 2020 paved the way for the alleged fraud.

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa (SLPP/Kurunegala District), in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on January 5, 2021 declared that consumers hadn’t benefited at all from the sharp reduction of duty on a kilo of sugar from Rs 50 to 25 cents.

Referring to a statement dated January 7 issued by the Communications Department of the Parliament, lawmaker Wickramaratne said that COPF called for a report from the Finance Ministry in that regard. Responding to the COPF request, Secretary to the Finance Ministry S.R. Attygalle submitted a report dated Feb 24, 2021 that placed the loss of revenue suffered by the Treasury at Rs 15.9 bn during Oct 14, 2020-Feb 20, 2021.

Lawmaker Wickramaratne explained that in the wake of the issuance of Oct 13, 2020 gazette, major importers imported/cleared 266,212 metric tonnes of sugar (Sept-Nov, 2020) and 433,000 metric tonnes (Jan-June, 2021) at Rs 25 cents a kilo. However, MP Wickramaratne said that his calculation was different. The MP declared that the Treasury had suffered a revenue loss of Rs 35 bn at a time the government was struggling on the economic front.

MP Wickmaratne said that the COPF discussed the sugar duty scam again on Feb 25, 2021. Asked whether he represented the COPF, MP Wickramaratne said that he was a member of the other parliamentary watchdog, Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). The former State Finance Minister emphasised that the losses inflicted on the Treasury was quite shocking against the backdrop of revenue loss of well over Rs 500 bn as a result of the questionable decision to do away with several taxes soon after the 2019 presidential election.

The MP was referring to quite controversial decision to do away with a range of taxes, including PAYE (Pay As You Earn), NBT (Nation Building Tax), Withholding tax, Capital Gain tax imposed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, Bank Debit tax and unprecedented reduction of VAT (Value Added Tax). The 15% VAT and the 2% NBT which amounted to 17% imposed on all goods and services were unified and reduced to 8%, effective from the first of December 2019. The decision was taken at the first cabinet meeting of the incumbent government held on Nov 27, 2019.

During Wickramaratne’s tenure as the State Finance Minister, the government income passed Rs 1,900 mark in 2018 and 2019 and dropped to Rs 1,300 bn in 2020.

Commenting on recent efforts taken by the government to stabilise the price of sugar, lawmaker Wickramaratne pointed out that those in authority had conveniently forgotten how the gazette issued on Oct 13, 2021 created an environment conducive for sugar fraud. Those responsible should be held accountable for driving the price of sugar to Rs 220-240 per kilo by August this year, the SJB official said, referring to a gazette issued subsequent to the Oct 13, 2021 duty reduction that was meant to sell a kilo of sugar at Rs 85. Now the same stocks that had been cleared at 25 cents a kilo over a period of time was being sold at the government set price at Rs 122.

Asked what he believed should be the government’s strategy, lawmaker Wickramaratne said that the market couldn’t be stabilised by price controls. The government should realise desired market stabilisation could be only achieved by ensuring uninterrupted supplies of whatever commodities in short supply, the former State Minister said.

The MP strongly disputed efforts to bring the price of essentials under control through what he called artificial measures. The SJB spokesman questioned the basis for the appointment of a serving military officer holding the rank of Major General as the Commissioner General of Essential Services.

MP Wickramaratne asked whether action had been initiated against those accused by the government of hoarding large stocks of sugar as well as paddy.

The Presidential Media Division last week named Pyramid Wilmar Company, Global Trading Company, Wilson Trading Company and R.G. Stores as hoarders. The National List MP said the government owed an explanation as to how the wrongdoers would be punished. The government couldn’t ignore the fact that hoarders earned massive profits at the expense of the hapless public.

The need for the establishment of an Office of Prosecutions should be studied taking into consideration Sri Lanka’s failure to tackle corruption, lawmaker Wickramaratne said, pointing out the questionable conduct of the AG in respect of some contentious cases.

Wickramaratne said that as a member of the previous administration he was ashamed of its pathetic failure to ensure action in respect of the national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, embroiled in massive corruption. Alleging waste, corruption, irregularities and negligence ruined the national career, the MP asked what really happened to the investigation ordered by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Feb 2020 into alleged financial irregularities in the transaction between SriLankan Airlines and Airbus. The presidential directive followed international media reports that the multinational aircraft manufacturer paid massive bribes to airline executives to secure contracts.

Pointing out that the alleged transaction took place in 2013, MP Wickramaratne according to disclosures in courts in Washington DC, Paris and London Airbus for years conducted a “massive scheme to offer and pay bribes” involving very senior executives in 16 countries, including SriLankan Airlines. The parliamentarian said that in spite of revelations that Airbus paid USD 2 mn to influence SriLankan Airlines’ purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft and the lease of an additional four aircraft to an intermediary company registered in Brunei under the wife of an executive at SriLankan Airlines, successive government failed to prosecute those responsible, the MP said.

“We cancelled the order and took other measures but never addressed the issue properly.” In 2017, Sri Lanka paid US$ 98 million in penalties for cancelling the order in 2016 and returning four A350 extra wide-body aircraft that are specifically designed for long haul routes and unsuitable for the airline’s business model.

Covid-19 has devastated the national economy and the country was facing a serious balance of payments crisis, the MP said. As part of Sri Lanka’s overall response to the situation, the government in consultation with all stakeholders should tackle waste, corruption, irregularities and negligence and also streamline the revenue collection process, the MP said.

All News Advertisement

News

Bambalapitiya Railway Station renovated under the “Dream Destination” project opened to the public

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/11

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that Sri Lanka is now creating a common dream as a nation and that the Government’s objective is to make public transport the convenient choice for the people. The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the ceremony held to open the renovated Bambalapitiya Railway Station under the “Dream Destination” project.

The renovated Bambalapitiya Railway Station was opened to the public on 10 September under the “Dream Destination” project, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development and the Sri Lanka Railways Department in line with the Clean Sri Lanka national programme. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the occasion.

The Prime Minister also inspected the renovated railway station, as well as the new pedestrian overpass providing access to the railway station, constructed by the Road Development Authority for which the Dawoodi Bohra community in Sri Lanka contributed Rs. 60 million.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed her special appreciation to the Bohra community for taking the initiative to renovate and provide the people with improved facilities at the Bambalapitiya Railway Station, a busy and well-known location in the Colombo District.

She stated that the renovation of public spaces and the provision of improved facilities have contributed to generating greater interest and a more positive perception of public transport among the people.

The Prime Minister also expressed her appreciation to the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, the Deputy Ministers and the staff for their contribution towards improving public transport services and attracting greater public interest towards these services.

The development of a country is not determined by the number of private vehicles it has. It is determined by the manner in which people use public transport. The Government’s objective is to improve the public transport service, which has disappointed the people for many years, and create a situation where people feel that public transport is more convenient and safer than using a private vehicle. The Government’s commitment to public transport is clearly demonstrated by the increased allocation of funds for the sector. The ’Dream Destination’ programme is another significant initiative under this effort, bringing together State institutions and the private sector to contribute to national development,” the Prime Minister stated.

“A country does not belong only to the Government. A country is the home for everyone who lives in it. It is the responsibility of all of us to contribute to that home through our knowledge, labour or resources. For a long time, we did not have a common dream as a country. Today, we feel that such a dream is beginning to emerge.

“We have a collective dream. The journey towards that dream is the collective journey we have begun together to build our country, which is our common home.

“What we witness here today is the active participation of our people, our diverse communities and the private sector in this journey. Such collective participation is essential to moving a country forward. Therefore, we deeply appreciate this contribution.

“The Bohra community reminds us today of the importance of this collective spirit. We have now embarked on a collective journey. We share a common dream of what our country should be, what the future of our country should look like and what kind of experience life in our country should offer. The Clean Sri Lanka national programme further strengthens these objectives,” the Prime Minister further stated.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara stated that increased funding would be allocated to the Sri Lanka Railways Department for development activities next year. He noted that public transport and railway services had not previously received sufficient attention from the Government, but that this would change moving forward.

“Our transport services are progressing step by step, and the railway system is a key component of this development. Accordingly, on the instructions of the President, we will commence the electric railway system, which has long been a dream for our country, next year. We expect to introduce electric railway services from Maradana to Makumbura, from Maradana to Panadura and from Maradana to Ragama. We will also commence work to extend the Kelani Valley railway line from Avissawella to Ratnapura.

He also appreciated the contribution made by private institutions towards the “Dream Destination” project without seeking any promotional benefits in return.

Speaking on behalf of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Khuzaimah Jefferjee stated that the Dawoodi Bohra community, which has been part of Sri Lanka’s social, cultural and economic landscape for more than 150 years, believes that being a citizen of the country means more than simply living in the country. It means contributing to the country, caring for it and leaving behind a better country for future generations.

He said that, as part of this responsibility, the community had taken steps to renovate, modernise and beautify the Bambalapitiya Railway Station. He added that the community hopes these efforts will make the daily journeys of passengers a cleaner, safer, more convenient and dignified experience.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Dr. Rizvie Sally, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council Vraie Cally Balthazar, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways Padmapriya, Janab Amil Saheb Ibrahim and representatives of the Dawoodi Bohra community, officials of the Clean Sri Lanka programme and several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Steps being taken to reduce paper usage in parliament and the public sector through digitalisation – PM

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/11

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that steps are being taken to reduce the use of paper in Parliament and the public sector through digitalisation.

The Prime Minister made these remarks in Parliament on Thursday (10 September) in response to a question raised regarding digitalisation and the use of paper.

The Prime Minister further stated:

“The total expenditure incurred in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for the provision of Hansard reports, Order Books, Agendas and other parliamentary printed materials provided to Members of Parliament and Ministers for use within the Chamber is Rs. 45.3 million in 2023, Rs. 58.7 million in 2024 and Rs. 73.1 million in 2025.

All these printed materials have been produced based on requests made by Parliament. At the same time, a programme is currently being developed to reduce the use of paper.

In accordance with a request made by the Secretary to the Treasury to the Secretary-General of Parliament, the Committee on Parliamentary Business considered the possibility of submitting reports to Parliament solely in digital format in the future. It was decided to conduct a survey to ascertain the preference of each Member of Parliament. Based on the results of the survey, arrangements will be made to provide relevant documents digitally to Members who prefer digital copies, while printed copies will be provided to those who prefer printed versions.

Following the completion of this survey, arrangements will be made to implement the programme on a date to be determined by the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

Similarly, all ministries and government institutions are currently taking steps towards digitalisation while reducing their use of paper. However, this process will take some time. In this manner, particularly the exchange of files and many other such processes can be facilitated through digital systems in the future.

For example, in the Ministry of Education, applications for leave submitted by university lecturers for overseas travel were previously submitted to the Ministry in printed form. The entire process has now been digitalised. The Ministry, through the University Grants Commission, provides approval for such leave applications through a digital process. Ministries across the government are taking similar measures. We believe that once digital systems are fully established, we will be able to significantly reduce the use of paper.

Responding to a question regarding measures to reduce the weight of schoolchildren’s bags, the Prime Minister stated:

The weight of students’ books will be reduced through the activity-based learning process introduced under the new education reforms. Since the books will be kept in the classroom, students will no longer need to carry them back and forth. They will only need to take the books home at the end of the term after completing their work.

From 2027, a module-based learning process will be introduced for Grade 6. Modules will not consist of large textbooks; instead, students will be provided with modules relevant to each subject for the particular term. Therefore, this system will significantly reduce the weight of schoolchildren’s bags.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

INS Udaygiri departs Colombo concluding formal visit

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/11

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri departed the Port of Colombo today, 11 September 2026, following the successful completion of a four day official visit.

On her departure, the Sri Lanka Navy bade farewell to the ship in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

During the visit, naval personnel from both navies engaged in joint initiatives to strengthen bilateral ties. These included a friendly volleyball match, a beach cleanup along the Galle Face
promenade, and a training exercise on Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy Special Boat Squadron (SBS).

As part of the visit, the Indian Navy handed over a consignment of spares and supplies to the Sri Lanka Navy. Visiting crew members also toured key tourist attractions in and around Colombo.

Official interactions of this nature aim to enhance cooperation and knowledge-sharing between the two maritime forces, supporting joint responses to evolving regional maritime challenges.