- Note that the above image was AI generated
A serious money and land fraud scandal has surfaced involving Sarath Hemandra, the father of a Member of Parliament representing the National People’s Power (NPP) from Malabe. Former Provincial Councilor Waruna Rajapaksa has publicly revealed the allegations, stating that a complaint has already been filed with the Balangoda Police. Rajapaksa also claims to have forged deeds and B reports linked to the matter, further intensifying the controversy.
Sarath Hemandra, born in 1950, previously worked as a government electrical engineer. During his tenure, he collected data on hydroelectric projects and identified potential sites, compiling a comprehensive report upon his retirement. Following his departure from the Electricity Board, he entered the business of mini-hydro projects. To fund these ventures, he partnered with others, forming companies to raise capital. His approach reportedly involved transferring company shares to others for large sums once projects were completed. When funding fell short for projects concentrated in the Ratnapura district, he borrowed heavily from various individuals, often with the assistance of a middleman named Chandraratne. Checks were issued as security, but over time, he disappeared, leaving creditors in crisis.
It later emerged that Hemandra had sold his two-storey house in Kottawa, where he continued to reside despite transferring ownership. Even after the sale, he allegedly lived in the upper floor of the property. When debtors eventually tracked him down, he admitted to having no money at hand but promised repayment in due course. In order to avoid immediate legal action, he is accused of committing a serious act of fraud by writing multiple deeds for the same property, offering land already sold as collateral for loans. Under Sri Lankan law, issuing two deeds for the same land constitutes forgery and is treated as a grave violation, making this one of the central allegations against him.
The case has broader implications because the accused is the father of an NPP MP, who is known as a legal scholar and has been involved in drafting several government laws. This has raised questions about integrity and accountability, with critics suggesting that before attempting to bring justice to society, the MP should first confront wrongdoing in his own family. There are also growing calls for the MP to declare openly whether he or his family benefited in any way from these alleged fraudulent activities. If he has not, it is argued that he should support the implementation of the law by aiding victims, even by offering free legal assistance.
Although the MP’s own assets and liabilities declaration does not list many holdings, the scandal casts a shadow over his credibility. Observers argue that transparency and justice are essential if the public is to continue trusting politicians who campaign against corruption. In this case, the responsibility rests not only with law enforcement to investigate the allegations against Sarath Hemandra but also with his son, the MP, to demonstrate integrity by clarifying his stance and ensuring that the law applies equally, even to his own household.
