The Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at this moment when we join the debate on the Regulations under the Anti-Corruption Act presented today by the National People’s Power Government—which came to change the corrupt, fraudulent, and unjust social order that governed this country for a long time—I wish to speak about how corruption and fraud took place, how action was taken against them, and several related matters.

¶ 02 First, let us look at the definitions of “corruption.” I have taken these from the website “Groundviews.” One definition states:

¶ 03 “One simple way to define corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gains by political leaders or public officials.”

¶ 04 That is, the abuse of entrusted power by political leaders and public officials for private benefits: private favors and advantages. Further, it states:

¶ 05 “It is a form of dishonesty or criminal activity undertaken by a person or organization to acquire illicit benefits.”

¶ 06 That means it is criminal activity undertaken to gain unlawful advantages.

¶ 07 It also notes:

¶ 08 “Forms of corruption include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, parochialism, patronage, influence peddling, graft and embezzlement.”

¶ 09 Looking at these, we see bribery, kickbacks, cronyism, parochialism—various corrupt acts. In our country, two main streams are identified as primarily responsible for corruption: political leadership and public officials—the state bureaucracy.

¶ 10 We remember our school days, A/Levels, and higher education. We questioned how a country so rich in resources had, by 1950, reached the second highest per capita income in Asia at USD 89, while Singapore, then considered a backwater, was around USD 30. Today, Singapore’s per capita income is about USD 70,000, while ours has only risen from USD 89 to around USD 3,800–4,000. As young people we realized that a key cause of our bankruptcy was corruption, fraud, and bribery—with politicians playing the primary role. Data from Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index shows Sri Lanka ranked 79th least corrupt in 2013, slipping to 115th by 2023, and around 121st by mid-2024, among 180 countries.

¶ 11 Groundviews further explains:

¶ 12 “In the public sector, politicians distort the order of public spending, disregarding economic principles applied to prioritise projects and allocate budgets for activities that lead to larger bribes or commissions.”

¶ 13 Thus, projects are chosen for the prospect of larger bribes or commissions. Those who now accuse our Government held positions then. It further states:

¶ 14 “Corrupt politicians support large infrastructure developments such as roads, power plants and harbours because of opportunities for larger commissions or personal political gains.”

¶ 15 As examples, it lists: the Lotus Tower, the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention Centre, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the Hambantota International Port, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, and many others.

¶ 16 What happened to our country under this corruption and fraud? It says:

¶ 17 “Corruption undermines economic development and threatens state security. It also undermines democratic values.”

¶ 18 All that was destroyed in the recent past by those governments. By 2022, the economy had collapsed to zero, destroying even our democratic values.

¶ 19 When our Ministers present arguments, some cannot bear it and shout. A certain “box thuggery” was brought into this Parliament by those who used wealth and power gained through corruption to turn themselves into big figures. Those attempts to create side-shows to harm the dignity of Parliament continue even today, which we regret.

¶ 20 These days, as part of the Government’s programmes, we visit places like Monaragala where the poorest live. Under the housing programme, we go house-to-house to provide support worth around Rs. 1 million per home to the most destitute. We saw people in mud huts, families without meals. In 2015, a government came promising “good governance” and to eradicate corruption, yet within two months the Central Bank bond scam occurred, making corruption a core policy. I recall a Minister closely linked to that scam whose wife received a house valued over Rs. 150 million from Arjun Aloysius. When questioned on media, he claimed he did not know. While they bought houses worth Rs. 150 million, people had no homes or food.

¶ 21 Dear people then gave us power in 2024 not for any other reason but because this is a Government which could act against fraud and corruption. That is why the people established a National People’s Power Government and why they still trust us.

¶ 22 As we head into processes including local elections, people tell us what they value is that, among post-independence governments, this is the one that acts 100% against corruption and fraud. We will not only protect that trust but also cleanse the entire state apparatus of corruption and build a better, more prosperous nation for our people. Thank you for the time.