NPP assets debate intensifies as Harshana Nanayakkara says property claims are opposition narratives, not concerns raised by ordinary people.
NPP assets controversy has drawn a sharp response from Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, who said National People’s Power members are not a group of “beggars.”
Speaking during a discussion on National Television, the Minister said criticism over the assets and property of NPP members was not coming from ordinary people, but from the opposition and certain organized groups.
Responding to a question from the anchor about public debate surrounding the assets, liabilities, houses and educational qualifications of government stakeholders, Nanayakkara said ordinary citizens were not the ones raising these questions.
“Actually, it is not the people who are questioning these assets and liabilities. The opposition and certain gangs are making certain placements of these things,” he said.
The Minister rejected what he described as an opposition-created narrative that NPP representatives cannot have money and must live like “beggars.”
He said the opposition had built a story claiming that “JVP members are beggars, there is no way they can have money,” while stressing that he believes there is no corrupt person in his group, including himself.
Nanayakkara added that all members of his group, including himself, had declared their assets and liabilities, meaning anyone had the opportunity to examine and speak about them.
He acknowledged that the opposition had created various stories by picking up certain words that had slipped from party members on some occasions. However, he said this did not amount to a policy mistake or a decision-making error.
Minister Harshana Nanayakkara further stated that regardless of criticism over assets, both the President and himself were fully satisfied with the group.
