Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe reveals that public funds meant for Sri Lanka’s students were allegedly misused in a multi-billion rupee scandal involving the prestigious SLIIT campus. According to Samarasinghe, these funds were siphoned to purchase houses in Canada, the US, and Australia. He outlines how state power was abused and vows legal action to return SLIIT to the Mahapola Trust.
Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe announced that legal action would be taken against those who looted the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), originally a property of the Mahapola Trust Fund. He revealed that the fraudulent alienation of the institution, which was orchestrated through abuse of state power, led to funds being used to purchase houses in countries like Canada, the USA, and Australia.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Ministry, Samarasinghe declared the government’s commitment to restoring SLIIT to Mahapola and channeling its benefits to Sri Lankan children. He criticized a 2017 Cabinet decision approved by then-President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Sajith Premadasa, that revoked Mahapola’s legal claim to SLIIT. When a Cabinet paper was submitted in 2022 to reverse the move, it was rejected.
Samarasinghe accused individuals of intending to divide SLIIT among private interests and highlighted that houses abroad were bought with the proceeds. He warned all parties involved in the fraud to be cautious, stating that action would be taken to its fullest extent.
The Mahapola Trust Fund’s mandate is to support vocational education and establish training institutions. SLIIT was set up in 1998 using Rs. 375 million from Mahapola and Rs. 175 million from the National Savings Bank. Until 2015, the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka served as Mahapola’s Chair. However, between 2012 and 2015, amid efforts by the Rajapaksa government to remove the Chief Justice, Board meetings were halted.
With Justice Sri Pawan’s 2015 appointment, Mahapola resumed board functions. Yet, the Ranil-Maithri administration simultaneously initiated the Central Bank bond scam and began the covert alienation of SLIIT. Samarasinghe named the late Wickrama Weerasuriya as a key player in the takeover.
SLIIT recently issued a statement claiming it received no state funds beyond its inception and now operates independently. But Samarasinghe argued that the institution, still a company limited by guarantee, was built with Mahapola money and cannot divorce itself from public accountability.
He cited Board meeting minutes Nos. 56 and 57, which falsely documented approval for transferring SLIIT. Justice Sri Pawan, during testimony before the Upali Abeyratne Commission, denied such discussions or approvals took place.
In 2018, then-Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe submitted a Cabinet paper to address the issue, but it was sidelined, and he was advised to consult the Attorney General. A new paper in 2020 by Minister Bandula Gunawardena led to a committee Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dinesh Gunawardena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Wimal Weerawansa, but no report followed.
Another Cabinet paper was submitted on February 17, 2022, seeking to restore SLIIT’s 2015 status. But under Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidency, it was allegedly altered to support privatization. Samarasinghe claimed funds were diverted to purchase international property.
According to the Upali Abeyratne Commission, the fraudulent 2015 agreements violated the Penal Code. It recommended voiding these agreements and establishing new terms aligned with Mahapola’s objectives. It also named individuals responsible: Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (deceased), Dr. Wickrama Weerasuriya (deceased), Attorney Anil Rajapaksa, and Professor Lalith Gamage.
At the time of the 2015 deal, SLIIT had Rs. 1.169 billion in retained earnings. Yet only Rs. 408 million was returned to Mahapola, effectively registering SLIIT using its own money. Samarasinghe demanded accountability from the Cabinet of that period.
Today, Mahapola holds Rs. 22 billion in funds and supports 76,000 scholarships. The government intends to appoint a new management board to increase access to affordable vocational education.
Samarasinghe concluded that the IT institute built by Mahapola must be returned to it and its results must benefit Sri Lankan youth. Supreme Court Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Chair of the Mahapola Trust Fund, joined the briefing.
