Sri Lanka’s political storm over asset declarations deepens as Udaya Gammanpila accuses the President and ministers of hiding key information, while Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa admits “shortcomings” and confirms they are being corrected.
Sri Lanka’s debate over transparency in politics has taken a dramatic turn with fresh revelations on asset and liability declarations submitted by top government figures. At a recent media briefing, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and lawyer Udaya Gammanpila alleged that the President and several ministers had deliberately undervalued properties, omitted foreign trips, and concealed gifts worth millions in their official statements. He warned that under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, hiding such information carries penalties including fines, prison terms, and possible confiscation of assets.
Gammanpila pointed specifically to the President’s unexplained foreign travel expenses to England, Canada, and Vietnam, claiming that air tickets, hotels, and even private flights were missing from his 2024–25 declaration. He also accused other ministers, including Nalin Hewage and Sunil Handunnetti, of failing to disclose significant monetary gifts, despite evidence of large sums being credited to their accounts during election years.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Media Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa admitted that there are “technical shortcomings” in the asset declarations but defended ministers by saying these could be corrected. “A lot of details had to be presented this time. Some values may be outdated or incomplete, but the important thing is that all assets are documented and can be revised,” Jayatissa explained.
The controversy has fueled public anger, with critics arguing that politicians are exploiting loopholes to hide their true wealth while ordinary citizens face economic hardship. As investigations continue, both the President’s and ministers’ declarations are being closely scrutinized, with growing demands for accountability and full disclosure.
