The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson, due to your ruling, I will refrain from commenting on that specific matter, though I have much to say. Let me first commend our COPE Chair, Dr. Nishantha Samarawira, and Government Members for acting with understanding and courage. I have served on COPE since 2004; past Chairs from both Government and Opposition withstood pressure and worked strongly.

¶ 02 On the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Development Project: the first agreement was signed on 28 March 2012; a second on 24 March 2016, for JPY 74,397 million (about Rs. 158 billion). After 2015, the roof design was altered from “nelum” (lotus) to a plantain-leaf shape—irrelevant aesthetics aside, the project’s physical progress was only 5.44%, yet 40% of cost was paid to the consultant. The project then stalled. Allegations arose that a former Minister received money from the Taisei company; in the event, Taisei halted the project, which spared us an expressway-like financial burden. Staff were reduced from ~400 to ~70, and the project stopped during the 2022 economic crisis.

¶ 03 Now, a new tender was issued on 4 September 2024, with deadlines extended three times: to 24 December 2024, then 18 March 2025, then 25 March 2025. Two parties bid: the previously involved company and Sojitz. Sojitz is a trading company; issues were raised. The high-level procurement committee (CANC) considered that under the Notaries (Amendment) Act, No. 28 of 2022, Section 3.1(a), any power of attorney executed in Sri Lanka or elsewhere must be registered with the Registrar General, and Section 3(2) requires appropriate references and return of the original. Without a valid, properly held Power of Attorney, Sojitz was rejected. Yet the tender timelines were then extended at Sojitz’s request—including on a Sunday—to a Tuesday. Subsequently, the tender validity has been extended by 150 days to 22 August 2025, and then another 120 days to 20 December 2025, seemingly to allow curing of POA deficiencies.

¶ 04 Moreover, Sojitz has brought in Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Construction. L&T has faced significant global allegations and serious delays—e.g., 1,640 days on the Greater Colombo Wastewater Project. Egypt has also removed Sojitz from a project. Why are airport authorities prolonging and twisting this tender? Do not destroy this project again through endless extensions.

¶ 05 I also raised a Question of Privilege regarding reports that Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, the Hon. Speaker, and others possessed foreign funds and cryptocurrency—USD 3,000 in crypto and USD 1,850 cash—contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, which clearly covers digital or computer-form currencies irrespective of legal tender status. The Bribery Commission must act.

¶ 06 Further, Nandana Gunathilaka alleged that Mr. Ranga Dissanayake of the Bribery Commission had previously been part of a political party’s legal committee, and that a former MP chaired it. The Director General should clarify publicly because selective law enforcement is unacceptable. The law must apply equally—Government or Opposition.

¶ 07 On the President’s UN statement about anti-corruption: a similar line was earlier stated by the Rwandan President at Nigeria’s Abuja National Democracy Day Anti-Corruption Summit—“The fight against corruption is dangerous. Not fighting corruption is even more dangerous.” If our President has adopted that sentiment, fine—copy good things—but do not claim originality. Thank you.