The Hon. U.P. Abeywickrama, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, gives effect to certain provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption and other internationally accepted standards, and establishes an Independent Commission for the declaration of assets and liabilities, and for the detection, investigation and prosecution of corruption and related offences. Today’s debate concerns Regulations made under sections 156 and other relevant powers of that Act.

¶ 02 In our region, within parliamentary democracy, some politicians have used public funds to build their political careers, normalizing corruption, waste and lies to whitewash their histories. Within six months of this People’s Government taking office, the Opposition is attempting to sow doubt and mistrust about our actions; they should be ashamed. Their parties’ histories are marred by corruption, wastage, and destruction of public assets.

¶ 03 They used Parliament and public funds to bolster their power, spreading lies and mudslinging to undermine the political culture we are building against corruption and fraud. The people ended that chapter and empowered this new political movement. They must understand they cannot drag the country back to the old political culture. Under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and our Cabinet, we are building a new political culture which the people look to with hope.

¶ 04 We all remember how projects were used for propaganda—like the “Gam Udawa” housing projects—with posters and cutouts around the country, and public funds spent on election campaigning, including year-round dansals at Temple Trees and Anuradhapura during election times. Is this not corruption and waste? Those who once looked away now question our conduct. They should feel shame. It is due to such practices that we became a bankrupt state that could not import fuel or gas.

¶ 05 We believe history has given us the chance to transform politics, the economy and society. Through legislation and Gazette Regulations like today’s, we are dismantling the old culture. We do not say courts will punish because we are in power; but institutions have been invigorated, the rule of law elevated, and all made equal before the law. In the past, Presidents, Ministers and MPs acted above the law—remember when a President intervened to protect a Provincial Councillor during a raid, making officers withdraw; those Presidents have since apologized publicly. That was the degraded political culture. We are restoring the system and rehabilitating Sri Lanka’s international reputation.

¶ 06 Recently, we saw arrests and prosecutions of officials and even a former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman over tender manipulation. We trust that investigations into corruption across all levels, based on complaints from us and the public, will proceed and be prosecuted. This happens because we, as Government, provide the necessary facilities and guidance.

¶ 07 On the “Containers 323” matter, the Director-General of Customs has clarified: this is not a recent incident; since 2020, releases have been done under Customs release standards and procedures, without political interference. On the Government vehicle auction, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara has accepted his earlier statement was wrong and expressed regret. Every allegation flung at this Government will not hold up beyond 24 hours.

¶ 08 We even welcome that the Opposition is learning from its mistakes. In future, perhaps we will stand together against corruption and waste. If not, they will be rejected by the people, unable to even fill local councils. Our Government will not retreat from taking necessary decisions for political, economic and social transformation. Thank you.