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- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe JJB AI summary Hon. Darmapriya Wijesinghe supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, arguing that previous laws and COPE recommendations were not effectively implemented and that the new Government is acting urgently to recover stolen public funds. He cited alleged corruption cases including the Central Bank bond scam, MIG aircraft deal, Gin-Nilwala project, unexplained assets, and embezzlement identified in recent COPE proceedings. He linked the Bill to the Government’s election pledge and the public demand after the 2022 protests for action against theft, fraud, and corruption, stating that further laws would be introduced if necessary. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake said the Bill was being rushed to satisfy IMF requirements and drew parallels with the Anti-Corruption Act, which he said he had supported but was now being used against him through politically motivated and unusually expedited proceedings. He stated that laws on illicit assets and corruption should apply equally to all, but alleged selective enforcement and cited complaints against government Ministers that he claimed had not been pursued. He also urged the Justice Minister to address severe overcrowding in remand prisons, attributing much of it to drug-related cases and bail restrictions linked to reported drug quantities. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika expressed condolences over the death of Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera and said his political vision would be continued. Supporting the Bill, he argued that public demands after the 2022 bankruptcy, including the recovery of stolen assets, reflected widespread concern over corruption and unlawful enrichment by politicians. He said earlier laws were inadequate or unenforced, linked the Bill to the IMF’s 2023 governance recommendations, and stated that the Government had prioritized it as part of its policy to recover assets and address corrupt governance. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra JJB AI summary Hon. Arun Hemachandra defended the Bill’s asset recovery provisions, stating that they are not retrospective and do not infringe fundamental rights, while enabling the freezing and recovery of property derived from earlier crimes. He cited international examples from the UK, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines, and Nigeria to support the need for conviction- and non-conviction-based recovery mechanisms and international cooperation. He argued that Sri Lanka previously lacked adequate tools to investigate unexplained wealth among politicians, officials, and others, and said the Bill would help create a healthier political culture by requiring proof of lawful acquisition. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment JJB AI summary Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra supported the Second Reading of the Bill, presenting it as a timely measure to recover or freeze assets derived from past wrongdoing and to strengthen accountability for unexplained wealth. He criticised the Opposition for what he described as a lack of constructive engagement, noting that they had opportunities to act between 2015 and 2019 and did not challenge the Bill in the Supreme Court. He argued that the Bill does not have retrospective effect, does not violate fundamental rights or Article 12 of the Constitution, and said the Government is prepared to conduct investigations and implement the law once enacted. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing JJB AI summary Minister Anura Karunathilaka supported the Second Reading of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, arguing that existing anti-corruption and money-laundering laws were insufficient to recover assets disguised as lawful property. He cited international investigative reports on offshore foundations, luxury assets, art collections, and alleged transactions linked to former Sri Lankan political and official figures as examples of the types of wealth the Bill is intended to address. He said public demand and international expectations had created the need for stronger legal mechanisms to investigate, seize, and recover proceeds of crime, particularly from political corruption, official abuse, narcotics, and organized crime. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake JJB AI summary Hon. Sujeewa Dissanayake supported the Second Reading of the Proceeds of Crime Bill, presenting it as a key measure to recover unlawfully acquired assets and address gaps in existing legal frameworks for tackling corruption, fraud, and financial crime. He referred to alleged misuse of public assets, suspicious properties, offshore money movements, and past amnesty proposals as reasons for creating stronger powers for investigation, restraint, preservation, and management of recovered property. He highlighted provisions on disclosure of unlawful assets, expanded powers for the Bribery Commission, a specialized Police investigation division, search and digital access powers, preservation of property, establishment of a management authority, and proportionate punishment. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri SJB AI summary Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri supported the objective of the Proceeds of Crime Bill if it enables recovery of unlawfully acquired assets, but questioned whether the Government is using it to distract from other issues, including the undisclosed India agreement. He demanded specific timelines for recovering alleged funds linked to Uganda and Medamulana, bringing back Arjuna Mahendran, and recovering proceeds from the Central Bank bond scam. He proposed that those who made false allegations or defamatory claims should also face legal consequences, while alleging that several current officials and appointees facing corruption accusations should be investigated and cleared before holding office. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, arguing that it is needed to investigate assets allegedly held through nominees or unexplained transactions, including the cited “Mihindu Arana” property transfer and bar licences allegedly linked to politicians. He highlighted Clause 34 as a key provision, saying it creates presumptions and allows measures such as restraining, preserving, or vesting property in the State where lawful ownership or source of funds cannot be shown. He said the Bill shifts the burden to persons holding suspect property to prove entitlement on a balance of probabilities and is intended to address proceeds of unlawful activity. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti JJB AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti supported the proposal to scrutinize the accounts and funds of political parties, arguing that parties wield state power and can be used to defraud the public. Referring to recent allegations of businessmen infiltrating and damaging established parties such as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, he urged the Minister of Justice to consider an amendment to the Bill to enable investigations into those who misappropriated party assets. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera requested that any agreements signed by the Government be provided to Members for scrutiny, citing earlier calls for transparency before signing such documents. He also urged the Government to implement a unique digital identification number system, arguing that it is necessary to control and eradicate corruption and that other anti-corruption laws would be ineffective without such a mechanism. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera SB AI summary Hon. Dilith Jayaweera supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill as a necessary starting point against corruption, but questioned whether it would be applied fairly and in good faith. He urged the Minister of Justice to introduce separate legislation requiring transparent auditing of political parties, including sources of donations and campaign expenditure, arguing that party finances and “fraternal donations” should face the same scrutiny as alleged bribes or racketeer funding. He also called for safeguards against abuse of investigative powers, review of rights and rule-of-law concerns in the Bill, and cautioned against disproportionate use of public property charges. He additionally expressed concern that MPs had not been given advance access to agreements signed with India. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam JJB AI summary The Hon. M.K.M. Aslam supported the Bill to recover illicitly acquired assets, stating that it would allow recovery of lost public wealth even where persons connected to proceedings are absent, while protecting legitimate entrepreneurs and penalizing illicit enrichment. He accused opposition members of exploiting issues affecting Muslims for electoral purposes, contrasted this with past incidents such as Digana, Hettipola, and the detention of Hejaaz Hizbullah and Ahnaf Jazeem, and said the Government would repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and introduce new security legislation. He urged voters in upcoming local authority elections to elect representatives able to work with the Government, citing Panagamuwa An-Noor Central College in Kurunegala as an example of neglected development that he said the current Government would address. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Jagath Vithana stated his opposition to theft, corruption, and arbitrary conduct, alleging that collusion between officials and politicians had contributed to the situation under discussion. He called for all responsible persons, irrespective of party affiliation, to be punished and for misappropriated money to be recovered. He expressed full support for the Proceeds of Crime Bill and said he was willing to appear before any committee or inquiry on the matter. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana alleged that funds were provided during the 2015 presidential campaign on the condition that Arjuna Mahendran be appointed Central Bank Governor, and claimed those funds were subsequently multiplied through the bond transactions. He stated that campaign organizers had widely received money, including from Sathasivam, and questioned why he had not been called to give evidence. He urged that the bond scam be pursued fully and said he was prepared to testify on his claims. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Hon. Jagath Vithana said he was willing to assist the Government on transport matters, starting in Kalutara with a small team and without vehicles or perks, but suggested the proposal had not yet received approval. He alleged corruption in the Sri Lanka Transport Board, referred to past excess payments and bus acquisitions, and said he had received a file on alleged corruption from the head of Lanka Ashok Leyland. He also requested time to speak further on the bond scam, including in the presence of Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Jagath Vithana SJB AI summary Welcoming the anti-corruption Bill, Jagath Vithana said it was a delayed but necessary measure to restore public confidence and pursue alleged hidden funds and past corruption files. He argued that regular investigations under the law could help reduce foreign debt and make Parliament more accountable. He also raised a complaint about alleged irregularities during the nomination process at the Kalutara District Secretariat, tabled a complaint, and called for an investigation into the conduct of officials involved. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti – Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development AI summary Hon. Sunil Handunnetti supported the Bill as a necessary legal mechanism to recover misappropriated public assets and act on corruption cases through lawful and transparent procedures, rather than political discretion. He assured that the Government would not use the law for personal or partisan purposes and said it would help address past failures where COPE, COPA and Auditor General findings had not led to recovery or punishment. He cited cases including the Easter attacks, Central Bank bond scam, sugar tax issue, Mahapola/Malabe property matter, Gin–Nilwala project, dairy cow imports, SriLankan Airlines aircraft deals, fertilizer transactions, coal procurement, SATHOSA rice diversion and the X-Press Pearl compensation issue as matters requiring investigation, accountability and recovery under the proposed law. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary D.V. Chanaka stated that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna supports the Bill to vest proceeds of crime in the State, while warning that such laws must not be used for political purposes, citing past examples including the FCID and public property legislation. He urged the Government to recover criminally obtained assets held overseas and use them as previously promised, including for debt repayment. He also alleged misuse of COPA proceedings regarding a vehicle linked to Yoshitha Rajapaksa and tabled related documents, and challenged Government claims on foreign reserves by citing Central Bank data on reserve levels before and after September 2024. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →
- 8 April 2025 The Hon. Ananda Wijepala – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs AI summary The Minister supported the Proceeds of Crime Bill, stating that it creates a framework to investigate, restrain, manage, vest in the State, and dispose of property derived from criminal activity, including assets moved overseas. He said the Bill addresses gaps in existing laws on bribery, public property, money laundering, terrorist financing, and criminal procedure, and establishes mechanisms such as a Proceeds of Crime Management Authority, a dedicated police unit, inter-agency and international cooperation, and a Compensation Fund. He emphasized that the Government intends to recover illicitly acquired assets, return them to lawful owners or custodians where appropriate, and target criminal wealth, including in cases linked to narcotics trafficking. Debate: Proceeds of Crime Bill – Second Reading Read →