By Asoka S. Seneviratne –

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill

A few days ago, global political and financial circles were shaken once again when Najib Razak, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister—already imprisoned since 2022—was convicted in the largest and most consequential trial linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a state-owned investment fund in Malaysia created in 2009 by then-Prime Minister Najib Razak. Its stated purpose was to promote economic development, attract foreign investment, and finance strategic national projects. It is at the center of a corruption scandal.

In a landmark ruling, the Malaysian High Court found Najib guilty on all 25 charges: four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering, all tied directly to the misuse of funds from the state investment vehicle, 1MDB. He was sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison and ordered to pay fines and asset recoveries exceeding RM11 billion (approximately US$2.8 billion), to take effect after the completion of his existing sentence arising from an earlier conviction related to SRC International (SRC International is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the Malaysian state-owned investment fund).

Najib, now 72, has been behind bars since 2022. His defence—most notably the claim that the funds were a “Saudi donation”—was decisively rejected by the court as implausible. The verdict reaffirmed a fundamental principle of democratic governance: political power does not grant immunity from the law.

For Sri Lanka, a country struggling to recover from decades of economic mismanagement, institutional decay, and systemic corruption, the Najib Razak conviction is not merely foreign news. It is a mirror, a warning, and an opportunity.

Sri Lanka’s Long and Costly Legacy of Political Corruption

Sri Lanka’s economic collapse in 2022 did not occur overnight. It was the culmination of decades of corruption, patronage politics, policy recklessness, and abuse of public resources by political elites and their close associates. From inflated infrastructure projects and opaque procurement deals to state-owned enterprise (SOE) losses and unchecked off-budget borrowing, corruption became embedded in governance itself.

What distinguishes Sri Lanka is not the existence of corruption—an unfortunate reality in many developing countries—but its normalization and political protection. Investigations were stalled, commissions diluted, and accountability traded for political survival. Successive governments promised reform, yet few dared to confront entrenched networks that spanned political parties, bureaucracies, and business interests.

The result was catastrophic: unsustainable debt, eroded public trust, institutional paralysis, and economic collapse. Ordinary citizens paid the price through inflation, shortages, unemployment, and declining public services, while many of those responsible remained untouched.

The AKD Government’s Central Promise: Ending the Culture of Impunity

Against this backdrop, the rise of the AKD-led government marked a profound shift in Sri Lanka’s political narrative. One of its most precise and most resonant promises was to eradicate corruption and fraud at every level, not selectively, not symbolically, but systemically.

What distinguishes the AKD government is not rhetoric alone, but intent translated into action. Investigations have been reopened, institutional independence strengthened, and political interference curtailed. The emphasis has been clear: corruption is not a political weapon but a national threat, and combating it is essential for economic recovery, social justice, and democratic renewal.

This has unsettled many. It is precisely because anti-corruption efforts are becoming credible that resistance has intensified.

Najib Razak’s Verdict: A Powerful Warning to Sri Lankan Politicians

The Najib Razak case offers a powerful and sobering precedent for Sri Lanka’s political class. Najib was not a marginal figure. He was a long-serving prime minister, party leader, and political heavyweight who once appeared untouchable. Yet, through persistent investigation, judicial independence, and institutional resolve, Malaysia demonstrated that even the most powerful can fall.

For Sri Lankan politicians implicated in grand corruption, fraud, money laundering, or abuse of public office, the message is unmistakable: time, influence, and political maneuvering do not erase accountability.

The parallels are striking. Like 1MDB, Sri Lanka has witnessed:

* Large-scale misuse of state funds,

* Politicised SOEs operating without transparency,

* Debt-financed projects benefit a few while burdening the many,

* Offshore financial dealings with minimal oversight.

Najib’s conviction illustrates that corruption cases may take time, but they do not disappear.

Why the Opposition Is Desperate to Undermine the AKD Government

The ferocity of opposition to the AKD government cannot be understood merely as ideological disagreement. It is rooted in fear.

Many opposition politicians have long, documented histories of corruption, financial irregularities, abuse of office, and questionable asset accumulation. Under previous regimes, they benefited from political bargains and mutual protection. Under the current trajectory, those safety nets are weakening.

The attempt to destabilize, delegitimize, or prematurely topple the AKD government must be seen in this light. It is not simply about policy differences; it is about survival in the face of accountability.

Najib’s fate reinforces that fear. If a former Malaysian prime minister can be convicted, imprisoned, and financially penalized to the tune of US$2.8 billion, then Sri Lanka’s political elites know that immunity is no longer guaranteed.

Najib’s Conviction as Encouragement for the AKD Government

While Najib’s verdict is a warning to corrupt politicians, it is also a source of encouragement for reformist governments like Sri Lanka’s current administration.

Malaysia’s experience shows that:

* Anti-corruption battles are long but winnable,

* Political backlash is inevitable but manageable,

* Judicial independence is the cornerstone of credibility,

* Asset recovery is as essential as imprisonment.

The AKD government must view Najib’s conviction as validation that perseverance matters. The pressure to compromise, delay, or “move on” will intensify. Yet history demonstrates that nations that abandon accountability for short-term stability ultimately pay a far higher price.

Asset Recovery: The Missing Pillar in Sri Lanka’s Anti-Corruption Fight

One of the most critical lessons from the Najib case is the emphasis on asset recovery. Punishing individuals without recovering stolen wealth leaves societies economically scarred and morally incomplete.

Sri Lanka must:

* Strengthen laws on unexplained wealth,

* Enhance international cooperation on asset tracing,

* Establish specialized financial crime courts,

* Ensure recovered assets are transparently returned to public use.

Without this, anti-corruption efforts risk becoming symbolic rather than transformative.

Judicial Independence: The Non-Negotiable Foundation

Najib’s failed bid for house arrest underscores another vital lesson: the rule of law must prevail over political privilege. Sri Lanka’s reforms will succeed only if prosecutors, judges, and investigators are protected from intimidation, inducement, and political interference.

This is not optional. It is existential.

Conclusion: A Moment Sri Lanka Must Not Waste

Najib Razak’s conviction is more than a Malaysian legal milestone. It is a regional signal that the era of absolute political impunity is ending—slowly, imperfectly, but decisively.

For Sri Lanka, the message is clear. The country stands at a crossroads. One path leads back to negotiated corruption, selective justice, and recycled elites. The other leads to accountability, institutional renewal, and sustainable recovery. The AKD government has chosen the more challenging path. Najib’s fall should strengthen its resolve—not weaken it. History will judge Sri Lanka not by how loudly corruption was condemned, but by whether it was finally dismantled.

*The writer, among many,  served as the Special Advisor to the Office of the President of Namibia from 2006 to 2012 and was a Senior Consultant with the UNDP for 20 years. He was a Senior Economist with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (1972-1993). He can be reached via asoka.seneviratne@gmail.com