By Vishwamithra –

“Investigation may be likened to the long months of pregnancy, and solving a problem to the day of birth. To investigate a problem is, indeed, to solve it.” ~ Mao Zedong

Six Ministers of the National People’s Power government being subjected vigorous and aggressive investigation and being treated as any other common wrong-doer is a noteworthy step forward for a small country whose topnotch politicians were running riot a couple of decades ago. Allegations can be made against any power-holder. But proof of such wrongs being committed by any person in white-collar crimes does not need to be shown beyond a reasonable doubt..

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Legal pundits would pen the situation in a more concise and clear way as follows: ‘White-collar crimes often involve intricate financial schemes, making the establishment of intent (mens rea) difficult, requiring prosecutors to rely heavily on circumstantial evidence like financial documents and emails, rather than direct eyewitness testimony, to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’

Elasticity of the law, in fact, lends the accusing party much more leeway than in raw criminal cases. The six Ministers have to be more careful, not only in the defense of their position, but also in the very optics that the allegations that have been created. By holding its own Ministers accountable and compelling them to be transparent in the management of their own financial activities, the NPP-led government has thrown a very decisive governance formula in the air. Where and when it starts falling as to who will be under the barrage of allegations of bribery and dishonesty would be another spectacle which would capture the imagination of many a critic and opponent of the NPP and its own methodology of running an efficient and incorrupt government.

By initiating legal inquiry into the alleged corruption charges, the government has placed the former accusers in the ‘accused’ seats. Ever since Ceylon gained Independence, many a government politician has come into limelight for wrong reasons such as bribery, outright dishonesty and blatant corruption that is usually associated with nepotism. Crowding their own Ministries with their own kith and kin may create a temporary shelter from transparency, yet when the the magnitude of the sums involved become enormous and the very ease with  which these corrupt practices could be performed by the those who are being alleged, the most disciplined of politicians could become incredibly  careless and sloppy.

However, if the charges are serious and the ‘intent’ could be proven, these politicians can be in grave danger of being painted with the same brush the Rajapaksas, Wickremesinghes and Rambukwellas have been tarnished with. Corruption is not an ailment that can be cured with one advice or two. The luxuries and comforts that corruption bring along to the practitioner and his family and friends could assume epidemic proportions. It spreads and controls the one that is infected; and the victimized could be sick with horrendous after-effects which alone could end up being a carrier of the same cancerous cells; its metastasizing nature shall kill the patient. What could have been brought under control by timely diagnosis and treatment has become an epidemic. The whole community could be in danger, in certain instances ending up with the total destruction of families and close circles of friends.   

On December 30, Daily Mirror reported thus: ‘Probe launched against Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister Bimal Ratnayake, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister Kumara Jayakody, Minister Sunil Handuneththi, Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has initiated a probe under the Money Laundering Act. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption have initiated an investigation into the alleged assets of six ministers of the current NPP government under the Money Laundering Act, according to a letter from it. According to a copy of the letter which the Daily Mirror has seen, an investigation was launched following a formal complaint submitted to the Commission by Jamuni Kamantha Thushara, Chairman of the Organization Citizens’ Power against Corruption and Waste. It was reported that Thushara submitted a complaint to the Bribery Commission on September 16, 2025, urging the Commission to launch an investigation into the alleged assets of five Cabinet ministers and one Deputy Minister under the Money Laundering Act.

Accordingly, the Commission informed the Chairman of Citizens’ Power Against Corruption and Waste that the Illegal Assets Division of the Commission has decided to initiate investigations against Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handuneththi, and Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Attorney Sunil Watagala.

In a reply letter dated December 17, the Chairman was informed to appear before the Bribery Commission to record a statement to further clarify the facts regarding the complaint. Accordingly, under Section 49(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, the Commission has requested him to appear before the Commission at 9.00 am. today, along with relevant documents, to provide the statement. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody is already under investigation by the Bribery Commission in connection with alleged corruption involving the misappropriation of funds while serving at the Fertilizer Corporation in 2015.

This investigation is in addition to the ongoing probe in which the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has decided to institute legal action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over corruption complaints related to the same matter. That investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by Sanka Chandima Abeywardena, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Haritha Sangvidhanaya (Green Organization).In September this year, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has also lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission regarding the assets of Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. Meanwhile, attempts by the Daily Mirror to contact the ministers concerned were unsuccessful.’

Once again the NPP-led government has displayed its principal weakness: failure to be a cohesive government with a credible group of politicians whose credentials would stand the test of voter’s verdict without suspicion and second-guessing. Only President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is held as a credible leader; he is obviously held in high esteem. But our government is not a one-man show and it should never be so. Even a small city or village council cannot be run by one single man. Democracy  does not exist in solitary isolation of a safe cell of a meeting hall. Democracy starts with an election but it does not end with elections.

Democracy is an organism that needs to be nurtured, nursed and sustained by robust participation of each stakeholder. If the stakeholders’ credentials are  being subjected to critical inquiry and objective investigation by a non-administration entity such as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the people at large would be interested in the findings and punishments, if any, after the investigations are concluded.

The stakes are indeed quite high and crucial. Potential gains or losses for all parties are substantial. What may eventually entail might be minimal and all those who have been charged may end up winners with no corrupt practices committed and their personal wealth and other assets well accounted for and their personal honesty assured. But that is passing judgment before even a hearing. But possibilities are not infinite. They are limited. Either they are found responsible for their own negligent or purposeful practices of corruption or they are partially responsible for certain violations of ethics code or outright not guilty of any practices of financial dishonesty.

But what stands out in this whole drama is the government’s position on the subject it’s Ministers and their personal finances and public accountability. AKD and his NPP are indeed succeeding where the Rajapaksas and Wickremesinghes have failed. Aragalaya-22 proved that our people cannot be taken for granted any more. Now they must hold their own government to account for each and every act of their Ministers and parliamentarians.

However, any delay or clumsiness displayed by the administration in the conduct of these investigations and their eventual findings or any intervention on behalf any of the alleged parties should be most harshly dealt with by all those who are watching the drama; they would be disappointed if any of these deficiencies occur.

The NPP members led by President Dissanayake cannot get away with any of the shortcomings that they accused their predecessors were guilty of. Criticism is so easy and it comes effortlessly when they occupied the Opposition benches. They are no more the Opposition; they are the administration and they must be held to the same standards that they held their opponents to. Let’s see if they are worthy of the standards that they pronounced and to which they held the Rajapaksas and Wickremesinghes.

*The writer can be reached at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com