Wheels in motion to bust crime, fraud – President

Legal officers empowered to move forward, file cases

Three units to probe 29,000 financial, homicide and drug-related offences

Govt has allocated Rs. 5,000 Mn for paddy Purchases

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake while stressing that the Government will not exert any influence on law enforcement agencies investigating cases related to fraud, corruption and crime added that however the Government remains committed to its duty of strengthening State institutions involved in executing the law against wrongdoers.

“We know that people are keeping a close eye on what action we will take against those accused of corruption and crime. I am not the Investigator, nor the Prosecutor or Judge. But it is the Government’s responsibility to strengthen State institutions involved in these proceedings. As a Government we are committed to ensuring that”.

Addressing two public gatherings in Homagama and Anuradhapura over the weekend he revealed that some legal officers had been holding back cases until a Government free from political interference was in power. These officers now have the freedom to carry out their duties independently, he added.

The President stated, “The Government has directed the collection of irrefutable evidence for investigations and the filing of cases in the High Court to speed up the process.

The Attorney General’s Department recently announced the discovery of 11 major cases, with three ready to be filed in January. Some legal officers had hidden files due to fear of repercussions from previous administrations, but they now feel empowered to move forward.”

“The Government is determined to complete investigations into past crimes, such as the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge 16 years ago. Despite challenges, the Government has strengthened relevant agencies like the Attorney General’s Department and the Criminal Investigation Department to expedite these investigations.

While the government can provide stability, only the judiciary can deliver justice. The goal is to prosecute corrupt leaders, and relevant institutions must gather strong evidence,” President added.

The Police Department has 29,000 investigation files and plans are in place to start investigations into various sectors. Three units have been established to investigate these cases financial crimes, homicides and drug-related offenses.

Daily raids are being conducted to apprehend drug dealers and those possessing illegal weapons. The political culture has changed, and politicians no longer travel with large entourages, causing public inconvenience. No minister has taken an official residence from the government, and plans are in place to re-purpose presidential and ministerial residences for economic benefit.

The NPP government is committed to elevating the country through good practices. Unlike previous administrations, the current budget does not allocate funds for ministries under the President. The government is vigilant in its decision-making and flexible enough to correct any missteps. This is seen as a unique opportunity for the country to become more transparent and accountable. The government believes that every leader should respect public property as sacred and is committed to starting this new transformation immediately.

President Dissanayake also addressed concerns about rice stock levels, mentioning that an official from the Agriculture Ministry testified before the COPE, stating that one million metric tonnes of rice is missing. The government aims to determine the whereabouts of this rice and ensure accurate tracking. A strong data system is being built to track rice production and consumption. The President assured that within two weeks, there would not be a single grain of rice missing from the Sri Lankan market, and there would be no shortages below the guaranteed price.

President added that the government has allocated Rs. 5,000 million for paddy purchases, the highest in recent times.

He emphasised the renovation of warehouses with a 300,000 metric tonne capacity, offering them to private collectors for better tracking. He mandated that all paddy collectors and rice millers register with the government and submit weekly reports.He highlighted the need for accurate data and assured that within two weeks, there would be no rice shortages below the guaranteed price.

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