Is Sri Lanka’s Executive President secretly protecting the very people who robbed the nation?
In a fiery media outburst, opposition leader Namal Rajapaksa drops a bombshell accusation: President Anura Dissanayake isn’t just turning a blind eye to the multi-million rupee coal fraud he’s allegedly the mastermind behind it. From appointing a scandal-tainted figure as a Cabinet Minister to importing substandard coal while ordinary citizens drown in rising fuel prices and living costs, Rajapaksa paints a chilling picture of a government that picks your pocket and then yells “thief!” at you. Is this a desperate political attack or the uncovering of Sri Lanka’s biggest corruption scandal yet? Read the full explosive statement inside.
The National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Mr. Namal Rajapaksa, stated that if the President is acting to protect those who committed the coal scam, or if he does not see the coal scam as a fraud, then the President is involved in this coal scam.
He made this statement while addressing the media at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party headquarters on Nelum Mawatha.
Mr. Namal Rajapaksa further elaborated:
“The policies of this government are exactly the same as those of the previous ‘Yahapalana’ (good governance) government. The pickpocket runs around shouting, ‘There’s a thief, there’s a thief,’ after committing the theft himself. So, everyone in the village runs after the pickpocket to catch the thief, but when you look closely, the theft was actually committed by the very person who pointed out the others as thieves. This government is exactly like that.
We all see that the Executive President of this country is acting to protect those who committed the coal scam. Looking at every statement made by the President, his behavior, and every action taken by the President and the government to protect them, it becomes clear that the Executive President of this country is behind the coal scam. Because the person in question was brought into the ministry when this country’s President was the Minister of Agriculture. Subsequently, he has even received serious allegations regarding a fraud he committed. A similar fraud has now been committed by importing coal. So, if the President, when he was the Minister of Agriculture, appointed him to a high government position, and later, even after he received serious allegations, the President has now made him a Cabinet Minister, imported low-quality coal, and is further protecting him, if the President does not see this as an obvious fraud, then it is clearly the Executive President of this country, Mr. Anura Dissanayake, who is behind this fraud.
It appears that the government is making decisions without any feeling for the challenges and difficulties faced by the people of this country. In the past, when we faced such challenges, we looked after the people in a positive manner. Today, fuel prices are increasing, but relative to that fuel price hike, the allowances of public servants, doctors, or essential service providers have not been increased. Leaving aside the allowances of Members of Parliament, at the very least, the allowances of those providing essential services, such as doctors or the staff of the Attorney General’s Department, as well as field officers in other departments, regional councils, and regional secretariats, have not been increased relative to the rising fuel price. Consequently, these people have been put in great difficulty.
On the other hand, the cost of living in this country is rising. But the government has no plan to control the cost of living. Recently, the Minister of Agriculture said there was plenty of rice. But now, the Minister of Consumer Affairs is preparing to import rice from abroad. When rice is imported from abroad right at the harvest time, we can only imagine what will happen to the livelihoods of innocent farmers. We also know that with the current military situation, a problem regarding fertilizer is likely to arise. So, what is the government’s alternative plan regarding this? What is the government’s strategy? Have they discussed this with farmer organizations? On the other hand, all these burdens are being shifted onto the people.
We saw that during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the difficulties, the government took steps to provide relief to low-income people. The ‘Pundahase’ (compassion) allowance was given several times. The government incurred some losses through that, but a program to sustain the people’s livelihoods was implemented. Today, we see governments around the world, including in our regional countries, implementing such livelihood support programs. But, as usual, this government, after incurring losses from its coal scam, is now trying to shift that entire burden and suffering entirely onto the people.
Clearly, the government’s attention needs to focus on increasing fuel allowances for field officers as well as those providing essential services. Similarly, entrepreneurs, small and medium-scale enterprise owners, their businesses are facing immense difficulties today.
What is the government’s specific plan to face the challenges posed by the increase in electricity bills as well as fuel prices? Regarding tourism, both small and medium-scale tourism service providers, as well as those engaged in large-scale tourism, have been forced to face severe difficulties. On the other hand, what is the government’s plan to maintain food security for the farmer? Is it to import food and give it to the people, or will the government adopt a further plan to strengthen the local farmer? Furthermore, the government must urgently act on what kind of program it will implement to control this rising cost of living, or at least to provide relief to low-income people. This government must remember well that piling tax upon tax on the poor, innocent people of this country is not justice.
At least giving an alms-giving is also a significant thing, isn’t it? These are people who never went to temples or churches until now, who never believed in religion. Those who insulted the venerable Maha Sangha, those who saw going to temple as a movie, those who saw giving alms as a show… I am happy about them building a new house and giving an alms-giving or offering gifts when entering the house. That should happen; that is the power of Buddhism. I am truly happy that this has happened.”
