The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti – Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for this opportunity.

¶ 02 At a critical juncture in our history, this Bill comes as one of the most important laws to be added to our statute book. The people’s mandate given to the National People’s Power Government requires laws that realize their aspirations—this Bill does so.

¶ 03 We have many laws and institutions—the Code of Criminal Procedure, Penal Code, CIABOC, COPE, COPA, etc. Yet, as noted earlier, politics and political power have abused these mechanisms for personal will—using the law to suit themselves—leaving unclaimed property and assets across the country.

¶ 04 We assure, especially the Opposition, we will not abuse this law. This Government has no desire to exploit this law for a cent. We have no right to misappropriate a single rupee of the people’s assets. As the President said: “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s; unto God what is God’s.” We want nothing. Therefore, do not doubt that this law will be abused. It will be used solely for the people and their aspirations, per the people’s mandate given to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This will not be used to protect families’ assets, or enrich friends; it will be used for the people alone.

¶ 05 I recall when the President was in Opposition, he pointed to the front benches of the then-Government and said, “If I am President and have the power to act, many in this front row would be up on the hill (in prison).” The people now ask why he is not acting fast in line with that declaration. While that is a fair criticism, we cannot act outside the law; even with executive power and two-thirds in Parliament, we must act lawfully and transparently. Hence this Bill.

¶ 06 This Bill addresses handling of illegal acts, improper benefits from State assets, facilitating investigation, and due process rights. As a former COPE Chair and leader in the anti-corruption struggle, I welcome this Bill. Many said COPE reports led to no action—no punishments. With this law, Parliament will have the power to see action taken and delays addressed.

¶ 07 The people empowered us in part to punish those behind the Easter Sunday attacks and those complicit—directly or indirectly—in the Central Bank bond scam. Under this Bill, the Hon. Minister of Justice will have the tools to act. Likewise for the sugar tax fraud; I took that case to the Supreme Court—next hearing is in October. This law will enable punishment and recovery where crimes are established.

¶ 08 Under Mahapola Trust Fund, a faculty for Moratuwa was taken to set up Malabe Technological University outside due process and turned into property—COPE probed it. Post-enactment, action can follow.

¶ 09 The Gin–Nilwala project cost the country over Rs. 4 billion without results; equipment vanished. This Bill empowers inquiries and accountability. The imported dairy cows debacle cost Rs. 16 billion; the case stalled—this law enables recovery and punishment. The Airbus A330-300 and A350-900 deals: SriLankan paid Rs. 32 billion in termination penalties; cases abroad moved but domestically stalled—this law empowers action. Organic fertilizer and the Chinese fertilizer ship compensation from People’s Bank: who is responsible? Nano Nitrogen liquid fertilizer fiasco: again, action can follow. Coal procurement inefficiencies cost Rs. 12.5 billion—must be probed. The Auditor General has submitted over 100 special reports—written evidence exists; some officials admitted fault on record at COPE. Yet not a cent recovered. Because laws were abused.

¶ 10 We must implement law to ensure these harms never recur and to recover losses. If further provisions are needed, the Minister should bring them; the people will support you.

¶ 11 We also saw SATHOSA rice stocks wrongly diverted to breweries and resold back to SATHOSA at higher prices—documented and investigated. The X‑Press Pearl disaster could have yielded billions in compensation, but it slipped away. Environmental, marine, and human harm were enormous. These are crimes—abuse of public wealth and power. Now those responsible are afraid; they are running out of places to hide. When one or two are jailed, others realize their place on the list.

¶ 12 No honest person, business, or politician who has dealt fairly with the State needs to fear this law. Those trembling now are those who must fear. If more power is needed to punish those who misappropriated public funds, the 21.1 million people stand ready to give you more.

¶ 13 This Parliament which once sat late to pass unjust laws is today exercising true people’s power—an historic day akin to the Free Education Act, fundamental rights enactments, and the 19th Amendment.

¶ 14 Thank you to the Hon. Minister of Justice, the Cabinet, the Ministry of Justice officials, and all who supported this.