Former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has issued a statement clarifying the allegations made by Speaker of the House and Minister Bimal Ratnayake.
He stated that the facts he previously presented regarding this incident have now been confirmed by the data provided by Bimal Ratnayake himself.
Media Release
This is to inform the public about the data presented by the Honorable Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Ratnayake in Parliament on March 12, 2025.
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the Honorable Minister Bimal Ratnayake for presenting the data that confirms the facts mentioned in my previous clarification. A copy of the tabled data is also attached to this letter for the information of the public.
As I previously pointed out, the statement made by Mr. Bimal Ratnayake that the expenses incurred for entertaining special guests, foreign ambassadors, or diplomats were personal expenses for my meals has now been proven incorrect (see Annexure). I also inquired about the dry goods, water, and food items requested by the Manager in charge of the Official Residence, as detailed in the report. From this, I learned that the tea leaves, sugar, liquid milk, bottled water, and soft drinks listed were intended for serving guests. I now request Minister Bimal Ratnayake to publish a detailed report for public reference.
I once again affirm with great responsibility that I covered my food and beverage expenses personally throughout my tenure at the Official Residence. Additionally, since the current Speaker does not reside in the official residence, any comparison should either be made with past speakers who did or with a future period when the current Speaker resides there. Furthermore, as it has been stated that most of the current Speaker’s expenses are covered through party funds or donations from friends, and since the amounts are unspecified, comparing his expenses with mine is both futile and unfair.
I am also pleased to present data confirming my previous statement regarding fuel and vehicle usage. It has been verified that the previous February 27 statement claiming I used nine vehicles with fuel expenses of 334 lakhs, and today’s statement claiming I used eight vehicles with fuel expenses of 261 lakhs, are both incorrect. The actual number of vehicles used at a time was three, as per the Parliament Circular of the Secretary to the President (see Annexure).
The vehicles allocated to me were KU 5355 (official vehicle), KT 6537, and CAB 3079 (two escort vehicles). When any of these three vehicles became inoperable, another temporary replacement was assigned (KQ 0716 and KV 0281).
The other vehicles mentioned in the list (KH 0943, KH 0942, and KH 0934) were police escort vehicles, assigned by the Police Department for VIP security on various occasions. Additionally, the vehicle bearing NC 4923 listed in the Annexure was used by the Media Unit.
The expenditure reports have been submitted by calculating the total fuel provided for all those vehicles from January 1, 2024, to September 24, 2024 (see Annexure). My previous statement that I used nine vehicles at a time has now been proven incorrect. I express regret for the misleading statements, as the data provided confirms that I did not use all those vehicles simultaneously.
Since fuel expenses should be calculated only for the relevant period of use, reporting the total amount provided for all vehicles from January to September 2024 could mislead the public regarding accuracy.
This analysis also does not account for the fuel efficiency of the vehicles assigned to me. While I am unaware of the vehicles used by the current Speaker, I assume that the fuel efficiency of my vehicles should be comparable to those used by the current President and Prime Minister.
Furthermore, as stated by the Minister, it has now been confirmed that I did not have 70 employees at the Official Residence. Instead, only 15 essential staff members were assigned to the residence (see Annexure), proving that this previous claim was also incorrect.
I would like to state that the points I am raising regarding this analysis are not intended to embarrass anyone but rather to ensure better transparency and more effective public communication. If any irregularities have occurred in the matters mentioned above, I request appropriate legal action to be taken.
Since it is now evident that all slogans, demands, theories, arguments, and economic solutions presented while in opposition have proven unrealistic in practical governance, and the public has recognized this, I believe there is no need to mislead the people with falsehoods anymore. What is truly needed is national development and winning public trust through effective governance.
With your government in power, no political party will ever again be able to use outdated slogans to destroy billions in public property, harm civilians, or disrupt essential services. I consider this the end of the extreme leftist influence that has hindered Sri Lanka’s progress for 76 years. The credit for this achievement belongs entirely to your administration, which marks a significant victory for both your party and the nation.
Concerns Over Future Rice Shortages
As a former Minister of Agriculture, I have been closely monitoring the recent shortages in rice supply and feel obligated to bring potential future risks to your attention.
While the current harvest has contributed to a temporary price reduction, the floods in the North-Central and Eastern provinces late last year could result in increased rice prices exceeding the previous peak of Rs. 350-360 per kilogram in the coming months.
Additionally, the global La Niña weather phenomenon is expected to bring increased rainfall, potentially leading to reduced crop yields in the upcoming season.
Other key factors include rising import costs, the end of the tourist season, and a decline in foreign remittances—as highlighted by Minister Sunil Handunnetti on a recent Rupavahini program—due to new export service taxes. These could contribute to currency depreciation after April, leading to a significant increase in inflation.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has already warned of a possible rise in inflation in the second quarter of this year. Therefore, I respectfully urge the government to take preemptive measures to address these challenges.
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena
Former Speaker
