Topic
Corruption & Governance Reform
2,708 speeches · 349 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P. JJB | 91 |
| 2 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 86 |
| 3 | Hon. Mujibur Rahman, M.P. SJB | 80 |
| 4 | Hon. Ajith P. Perera, M.P. SJB | 70 |
| 5 | Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri, M.P. SJB | 68 |
| 6 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 68 |
| 7 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 67 |
| 8 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 65 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 64 |
| 10 | Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, M.P. JJB | 64 |
Speeches
2,708 on this topic- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the Prime Minister on alleged corruption and irregularities under the current administration, comparing issues involving salt, sugar, container releases and tenders to past scams. He asked whether the Prime Minister recognizes such a political culture and whether decisions will be taken impartially, without favouring allies or cronies. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Corruption includes both illegal acts and unethical practices such as conflicts of interest, cronyism, and policies designed to create loopholes or benefit a few. Investigations into the matters raised are ongoing, with evidence-gathering and identification of perpetrators, and CIABOC retains authority to act where illegality is found. The Government is also seeking to end practices that may have been legal but unethical, particularly undisclosed conflicts of interest. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the Prime Minister on alleged fraud and irregularities involving salt, onions, sugar SCL reductions, and the release of uninspected containers under the Government. He asked whether, while pursuing past frauds, the Prime Minister and NPP Government would take decisive action to punish wrongdoing in the cases he cited. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri objected to the Chair’s handling of proceedings, alleging partiality in protecting the Government over corruption allegations, including the bond scam. He requested that his question be allowed. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri indicated that he was raising a question concerning thefts and the bond scam. He addressed the Prime Minister, suggesting the matter was directed to the Government for a response, but the excerpt does not include the substance of the question or any specific demand. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri questioned the Government’s lack of new investigations, arrests or legal action since taking office on issues it had highlighted during the election campaign, including the sugar tax matter, bond scam, white onion transactions, sugar, and aflatoxin-contaminated coconut oil. He alleged irregularities in Sathosa’s handling of white onions, the release of contaminated coconut oil, and a recent 50 MW wind power tender approved by Cabinet despite earlier rejection by evaluation bodies. He also asked for an explanation of salt imports and resale arrangements that reportedly increased retail prices from about Rs. 100 to Rs. 350 per kilogram, including who profited from the transaction. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Based on Ministry of Finance information, the reduction of the special commodity levy on sugar from Rs. 50 per kg to 25 cents per kg in October 2020 was made by Gazette on the then President’s instruction, approved by the Finance Minister, and later approved by Parliament under the Special Commodity Levy Act. The Ministry had not provided names or addresses of individuals or institutions, while the Committee on Public Finance, Auditor-General, Committee on Public Accounts, IGP and CID had taken steps relating to reports and investigations into the sugar duty reduction. The CID requested a forensic audit in January 2025, but the Auditor-General stated in March 2025 that an expanded audit could not proceed without access to required information and evidence. Information on the bond scam, white onion fraud and coconut oil import fraud had been requested from relevant institutions and would be provided later. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Chaminda Wijesiri asked the Prime Minister for details on several alleged major frauds involving public funds, including the Central Bank bond scam, sugar tax scam, white onion fraud and coconut oil import fraud. He requested the estimated losses, identities of persons and institutions involved, the status of investigations, details of those questioned or arrested, any planned future action, measures to pursue legal accountability, and steps to recover losses from those responsible. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the public has rejected an old political culture and that its associated political traditions are weakening. She argued that stronger enforcement of the law is compelling politicians to change, and that such rejected practices are naturally disappearing from public life. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB AI summary Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana referred to arrests and allegations involving misuse of public funds, counterfeit medicines, substandard eye drops, fertilizer procurement losses, and illicit assets linked to political figures. He argued that these incidents reflect a harmful political culture and asked what urgent measures would be taken to reform political conduct and accountability. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya JJB AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government is allowing the law to operate without interference in relation to corruption and misuse of authority. She said there is no intention to act vindictively against public officials, but officials who authorized improper transactions using their names and signatures will be subject to legal action. She framed continued enforcement as part of the public mandate to stop theft and corruption. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB AI summary Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana asked the Prime Minister about ongoing anti-corruption investigations following the Government’s strengthening of CIABOC, the CID and the Attorney General’s Department. He referred to recent arrests and inquiries into politicians and officials accused of large-scale misuse of public funds, and questioned how the Government views claims of political victimization by those who had previously demanded such investigations. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education JJB AI summary In response to questions from Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, the Prime Minister stated that 86 persons were arrested over bribery allegations in 2024, while by 30 June 2025, 34 persons had been arrested over bribery allegations and 29 over corruption allegations. She said the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, had expanded CIABOC’s investigative and prosecutorial powers, including over new offences, related Penal Code and public property offences, and money laundering, while the Government does not interfere with CIABOC’s independent work. She outlined prevention measures including public education, Internal Affairs Units, awareness programmes for local authority members, and implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029, approved by Cabinet on 24 March 2025. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 6 August 2025 The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana JJB AI summary Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana asked the Government for details on enforcement action relating to bribery and corruption allegations, including the number of arrests in 2024 and so far in 2025. He also sought the Government’s response to criticism of legal action against current and former officials and political leaders, and asked whether the Bribery Commission has undertaken prevention-focused measures and what plans or actions are in place. Oral Question: Poverty Eradication Programmes (Q.59/2025) Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem stated that the Minister had received information only through the District Secretary and that the Ministry was not at fault for being unaware. He alleged that partial conduct by District Secretaries had aggravated the issue, urging the Minister to take note. Adjournment Debate: Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Rauff Hakeem said a June 24 letter from the District Secretary had caused public agitation and argued that key facts had been withheld from the Minister. He stated that the issue arose from the District Secretary’s decision and could not be resolved through District Secretaries alone, alleging partiality in their actions. Adjournment Debate: Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath questioned why the Koralaipattu administrative boundary issue in Batticaloa had been escalated to Parliament rather than resolved at district level, warning that it could provoke protests and ethnic tensions. He argued that the 18 Grama Niladhari divisions in Koralaipattu South, though not gazetted, are functioning normally and should remain unchanged, and similarly that the two contiguous divisions in Koralaipattu North–Vakarai should be maintained. He specifically opposed moving five GN divisions from Koralaipattu South to Koralaipattu West and called for the matter to be handled as an administrative issue affecting all communities. Adjournment Debate: Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa JJB AI summary Aboobucker Athambawa said land and boundary disputes affecting Tamil-speaking communities in the North and East should be resolved through discussion and compromise, rather than being used for ethnic politics. He argued that past governments and leaders had opportunities to address these issues through earlier committees and reports, and called for work with the relevant Ministers and the President to deliver immediate solutions. He also stated that the country should not be divided by ethnicity, religion, or language, and noted that the current administration had maintained calm and prevented ethnic unrest. Adjournment Debate: Koralaipattu Central Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Urging the Government to fulfil its promises, the Member challenged others to acknowledge those who died for them as heroes and warned of public backlash. He also referred to documents alleging that a “thief” had been appointed in Jaffna, but said he would not elaborate due to time constraints. Debate: Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Regulations Read →
- 5 August 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Sagarika Athauda outlined the historical role of Justices of the Peace and argued that political influence and lack of clear appointment criteria had undermined the office’s public standing. She referred to the Minister’s regulatory powers under Section 45 of the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978, and cited Gazette Extraordinary No. 2439/34 of 04.06.2025 as introducing new standards on appointments, suspensions and cancellations. She said the regulations, including age limits, educational requirements, English certification criteria and medical fitness certification, are intended to restore integrity, efficiency and respect for the JP system, and expressed support for them. Debate: Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Regulations Read →