Hatton, February 10, 2025 – Chamira Perera, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Workers’ People’s Front, has accused the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration of orchestrating a large-scale compensation fraud by burning their own homes during the 2022 protests and later claiming state compensation.
Speaking at a media conference in Hatton, Perera praised the government for exposing the names of those involved in what he called a massive betrayal of public trust. He alleged that former official Keheliya Rambukwella embezzled nearly 9 million rupees in compensation, with at least 43 others similarly exploiting public funds under false claims.
Perera questioned how luxury homes were burned down at a time when the country faced a severe fuel shortage, calling for an immediate investigation into the basis of these compensation payments. He claimed that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government not only staged the destruction of their own properties to justify the claims but also used the situation to target protesters.
According to Perera, some homes had only minor damages, such as broken windows, yet their owners sought compensation of up to 100 million rupees. He demanded that all fraudulently claimed funds be returned to the government, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice.
