“Moratuwa may have developed in recent times, but it was the bank accounts of the former Mayor and municipal councilors that grew not the lives of its people” said Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara.
The Minister made these remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council, Mr. Nishantha Ferdinando, and the newly appointed municipal councilors.
Following religious observances and blessings, Mr. Nishantha Ferdinando took his oath as the new Mayor, while Ms. Prabhashini Wickramasinghe was sworn in as deputy Mayor before Minister Nanayakkara. The other municipal councilors were also officially inducted during the ceremony.
In his address, Minister Nanayakkara said:
“According to the values of the National People’s Power (NPP), none of you are here are to ask for jobs or school placements for your children. We have come to build this village. Until now, we did not have grassroots-level power to make meaningful changes. Comrade Nishantha Ferdinando, who served as a municipal councilor for 27 years, is now the Mayor of Moratuwa. He and this team are the only ones capable of transforming Moratuwa.”
Referring to previous comments made during the event, he added, “One speaker said that Moratuwa developed between 2006 and 2023. What actually developed during that period were the bank accounts of the former Mayor and councilors. They looted the people, yet shamelessly stand before microphones claiming credit. If their work had truly benefited the people, the voters would not have sent them home and brought us in. Moratuwa belongs to its native sons and daughters, not to corrupt politicians who squandered their time and power.”
The Minister strongly warned against future misappropriation of public funds, stating that under the leadership of Mayor Ferdinando, there will be zero tolerance for corruption. “Anyone obstructing efforts to eliminate fraud will face round-the-clock action by the Police and the Bribery Commission,” he said.
He also addressed NPP members directly: “Trust your parliamentary group. Trust the movement. Be patient when you are insulted or slandered. Do not react in anger. Resolve your issues through discussion and serve the people of Moratuwa over these next four years. Let your work bring smiles to the faces of our citizens.”
Highlighting the NPP’s progress, the Minister noted that the party, which secured just 3,500 votes in the 2019 election, has now become a dominant force in Moratuwa. “We won the Presidential Election and have now created an NPP mayor in Moratuwa. We had ambitions but lacked the power. Now we’ve secured it. No one can reverse this victory.”
Speaking of Mayor Ferdinando, Nanayakkara emphasized his long-standing experience. “We aim to transform this municipal council into a model for the country not just this year, but for the next four years.”
Media Q&A Highlights:
Question: Some argue that power cannot be properly established in local bodies such as the Colombo Municipal Council. What is your response?
Minister’s Answer: The opposition that claims this can only control 13 out of 300 councils and even those, not alone. The NPP leads in 267 councils. We will form power in all of them. There is no official opposition in local government bodies. Everyone should work together for village-level development. In two to three years, this so-called opposition won’t even be able to stand with us.
Question: Given that many officials from the corrupt past still remain in office, how can you ensure this new journey stays clean?
Minister’s Answer: Corruption wasn’t limited to local bodies it was systemic, from top to bottom. The powerful plundered public assets. We’re now building a system of clean governance from the top down. Yes, remnants of the old culture remain, but we have patience and faith. We can and will change this corrupt legacy.
Question: What is the current progress in punishing corrupt officials?
Minister’s Answer: We promised justice, and it’s being delivered. Investigations are ongoing. As Minister, my role is to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and the Attorney General’s Department. Today, judges act freely and MPs no longer influence police or legal processes. What you’re seeing is justice working independently. We aim to accelerate case resolutions. We are shaping a country that won’t need to think of another government. We are focused, purposeful, and patient.
Question: There’s a list of about 40 former ministers from the Rajapaksa era under investigation. Some claim they are being targeted out of political revenge.
Minister’s Answer: Political revenge and prosecution for actual crimes are two very different things. We are not engaging in revenge. Our role is to prosecute those who are found guilty through proper legal investigations. The Attorney General and Police know exactly what crimes were committed. The accused may try to paint their situation as political victimhood, but if they’ve committed wrongdoing, they’ll be punished. If they haven’t, they’ll walk free. The only reason they are shouting now is because they’re afraid they know what they’ve done.
In addition to Minister Nanayakkara, the new Mayor Nishantha Ferdinando, Deputy Mayor Prabhashini Wickramasinghe, Moratuwa Divisional Secretary Saman Prasanna, Municipal Councilors, and Municipal Commissioner Manoja S. Pathirana also shared their views and expressed optimism for a new era in Moratuwa’s local governance.
