A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka demanding the disbarment of a lawyer who made false claims about stolen national funds being hidden in Uganda. The controversial statement was made by a parliamentary election candidate during the presidential election campaign, where they alleged that the Rajapaksa family had embezzled money from Sri Lanka and invested it in Uganda.
The petitioner, Harsha Priyanga, criticized the lawyer’s public assertion, arguing that it was an unfounded and damaging accusation that caused significant harm to the political climate. He emphasized that this misinformation led to a widespread belief that the country’s financial crisis was a result of these alleged investments in Uganda, despite no evidence supporting such claims.
Priyanga also pointed out that after the election, the lawyer admitted that no such funds had been hidden in Uganda and clarified that the money had been lawfully transferred by a Sri Lankan company. He accused the lawyer of using their legal profession to spread falsehoods, thereby inciting division and hatred within society. The petition calls for disciplinary action against the lawyer for misusing their position and spreading false information, which Priyanga believes had a negative impact on the nation and the reputation of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The petition further urges the Supreme Court to take necessary steps to prevent the spread of lies and deceit, which have the potential to destabilize the country and harm the public trust. Priyanga has expressed confidence that the court will act against such dishonest practices, protecting the integrity of the legal profession and public discourse in Sri Lanka.
