Amidst mounting criticism against the government’s failure to take action against corrupt politicians and government officials, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered his office to immediately provide him with a list of names containing government officials who have been involved in various frauds committed during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sources said that Wickremesinghe has requested for a list of officials who possess a checkered career but are continuing to work in ministries, boards, departments and other government owned organisations.

“The Prime Minister has requested for a list of the officials who have been accused of fraud, as well as who have been involved in misusing public funds and other resources during the previous government,” they said.

A special team has been tasked to obtain the names of the corrupt officials, accused of various frauds.

The government came under heavy criticism recently when it allowed former Director General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Anusha Palpita to take over as an Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Palpita is embroiled in corruption charges, and is currently out on bail over the misuse of funds at the TRC amounting to Rs. 620 million which was allegedly used in Rajapaksa’s presidential election campaign.

Subsequent to his appointment to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he was suspended by the Public Service Commission.