The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we debate the Proceeds of Crime Bill. First, I note that every Member before me presented points on it. I intend to present a few political points about the urgency and necessity with which this Government brought this Bill swiftly to Parliament. A short while ago, Hon. Najith Indika spoke. Opposition Members said that they too drafted such laws and passed similar laws, but did not implement them. Extending his point, I say: enough such laws were made and passed, but they did not go beyond that.

¶ 02 As an example, COPE exists in Parliament. On many occasions COPE investigated crimes and made recommendations to take further action. Some of those making claims today sat on COPE and presented those reports here, but have failed to punish even a single offender. Therefore, making and passing laws alone is useless if we lack the will, spine, and authority in Parliament and the country to implement them. That is why the new Government has had to bring a Bill like this urgently—whether new or previously drafted, the need is to bring it quickly.

¶ 03 Before coming to power, we promised to bring every wrongdoer, every criminal under the law, and to recover for the country all public funds they stole. The law we are passing today is for that. Many factors compelled such a Bill.

¶ 04 Let me highlight a few. In recent history, we have found ownerless houses; unknown persons gifting gems; daughters of some ministers getting apartments; spouses and paramours of drug traffickers accumulating vast wealth. Funds allocated to state institutions for national development were unlawfully diverted to private accounts and personal whims. The Central Bank Bond Scam, the MIG aircraft deal, and the Gin-Nilwala project are such examples—public tax money diverted for private whims. Laws like this are needed to prevent such things.

¶ 05 As a member of COPE, I note that the reconstituted COPE under this Government has already summoned officers of five institutions; in all five, funds have been embezzled. Therefore, such a law is necessary and is being brought swiftly, fulfilling our promise before assuming power.

¶ 06 Some in the Opposition ask what the Government has done so far. This is exactly what the Government is doing—creating the necessary groundwork. This Bill is one such foundation.

¶ 07 If we look at the history that led to this fate: since 1977, our political history changed; politics shifted from dignity to business interest; politics became a lucrative enterprise to seek money. Those in power sought money; those with money sought power. Both groups aimed to amass wealth and property. Thus the criminal and the politician became indistinguishable; the public rejected politicians as thieves from 1977 onward.

¶ 08 By around 2022, our people, through lived experience, understood the country’s direction and joined the struggle to change it. Youth laid the foundation—“GotaGoGama” emerged and public consciousness changed. People rejected the politicians they had supported and began envisioning clean politicians, clean politics, and national reform—recognizing theft, fraud, and corruption as the cause of collapse. Therefore, thieves must be caught and all stolen public funds recovered. In the struggle for power, the National People’s Power rose with a strong voice: we will arrange measures against theft, fraud, and corruption; stop crime; and return all stolen money to the country.

¶ 09 With that desire, we have brought and are passing this Bill. As we told the people, we will govern to realize that aim and the public expectation. If this law is insufficient, we will make more to clean and renew the country. Thank you for the opportunity.