The Hon. Chandana Sooriyaarachchi

¶ 01 Thank you for the opportunity, Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees.

¶ 02 Among today’s matters, I wish to focus particularly on the Department of Motor Traffic. In March 2025, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) twice summoned DMT officials. Following COPA’s work and the recent amendment to Standing Orders, we are referring these serious fraud and corruption findings to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the IGP, other relevant institutions, and to the Attorney General for further action. Through these changes, the National People’s Power is further strengthening the people’s mandate.

¶ 03 The NPP has many public aspirations; among them is robust State intervention against fraud, corruption, and wastage. Accordingly, rather than confining COPA reports within this Chamber, we are now enabling further necessary action. The COPA report on severe irregularities related to DMT during 2012–2024 has been presented to Parliament.

¶ 04 Madam Deputy Chairperson, let me draw attention to this: due to serious irregularities and corruption at the DMT during 2012–2024, approximately Rs. 3,998.9 million in Government revenue has been lost and public funds misused—roughly Rs. 4 billion. This stems from DMT actions, corruption and irregularities, the conduct of certain officials, and weaknesses of Transport Ministers during that period.

¶ 05 Further, the report notes that, pursuant to a Cabinet decision dated 07 September 2016, DMT registered motorcycles imported without Customs procedures and imposed an additional levy based on fuel tank capacity. Due to irregularities arising therefrom, the Government lost Rs. 78 million in full revenue.

¶ 06 Additionally, for maintenance and services related to software used for driver’s licence printing, unusual expenditures of Rs. 154.1 million in 2023 and Rs. 181 million in 2024—totalling Rs. 335 million—were incurred. Thus, during periods when those who now lecture the present Government on the economy held power, a single institution suffered heavy financial irregularities and misuse nearing Rs. 4 billion. We therefore expect that after tabling this report with the Attorney General’s Department, proper action will follow.

¶ 07 A Member from the Rajapaksa family asked what was done for houses destroyed by Cyclone “Ditva.” In 2004, the tsunami necessitated 17,000 houses; to date the Reconstruction and Development Authority is in crisis and those occupiers have not been granted title. They cannot even paint or repair their own homes. Yet now they ask what we did in the few months after Cyclone “Ditva.” Let the Rajapaksa scion, the son of the President, tell us what fundamental changes the decade of 2005–2015 brought.

¶ 08 They talk about inflation. In 2020–2022, inflation was 70–80 per cent; food inflation reached 95 per cent. People died in fuel, gas, and medicine queues. Why? Because of fraud, corruption, waste, and irregularities. Who must be held accountable? Now they come here and ask whether we must be held accountable.

¶ 09 Give me one more minute, Madam.

¶ 10 During the Rajapaksa rule, they turned national tragedies into income streams. During Covid, the Health Ministry bought Pfizer doses at USD 10, but 30,000 doses were given to a private company at USD 50 each. How can medicines purchased with public funds for public safety be sold to another entity? I am tabling all documents relating to this.

¶ 11 Let the people see the truth about those corrupt rulers who ruined and bankrupted the country. I conclude.

¶ 12 Thank you.

¶ 13 Question put, and agreed to. Placed in the Library.

¶ 14 Ports and Airports Development Levy Act: Order