SJB MP Prasad Siriwardena fires back at the NPP-led government, accusing it of ignoring billion-rupee corruption while making arrests over trivial offenses like splitting corn and playing carrom. He questions where the promised justice is for Sri Lanka’s real economic looters and calls out the hollow crackdown on petty crime.
Billions Unpunished, But Corn Splitters Get Caught – SJB MP Slams NPP’s Selective Justice
Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Prasad Siriwardena has slammed the government over what he describes as a glaring failure to deliver justice for Sri Lanka’s biggest financial crimes. He alleged that the very individuals who promised to clean up large-scale theft before taking office are now focusing on petty offences while the real culprits walk free.
Speaking to the media, MP Siriwardena declared, “Where are the thieves who robbed billions and trillions? The ones who plundered the economy? No one has been arrested for those crimes yet. Instead, we see arrests over things like splitting corn kernels and playing carrom without cabinet approval.”
He criticized the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which leads the National People’s Power (NPP) government, for its grand promises that have fallen flat. “They said that if we could get rid of the 225 thieves, half of the country’s problems would be solved. It’s been eight months or more since they came to power where are the results?”
According to the MP, the people were expecting justice for the economic catastrophes caused by past administrations, not arrests for minor procedural violations. “If large-scale theft has actually stopped, and if the culprits of past frauds are finally being held accountable, then we the people can celebrate. But all we see are headline-grabbing arrests for trivial reasons,” he said.
He reiterated that he was not against small-scale arrests those, too, are part of governance. However, he questioned the priorities of the current administration. “The real issue is that those who committed crimes of economic devastation are untouched. That was the bigger problem. The punishment should match the damage.”
Siriwardena’s remarks underscore growing public frustration over what many see as selective justice and political theatre, as Sri Lanka continues to reel from its worst financial crisis in history.
