Corrupt ministers alarmed over proposed laws to recover swindled public money

Jan 08, 2017

After special projects minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama announced that a special act would be introduced to recover swindled public money from responsible politicians and state officials, several government ministers have become alarmed, reports say. 

They have met Amunugama and told him that bringing in such an act should not be hurried and that it should not be made effective backdated. Among these ministers are several leading cabinet members of the former Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.

Minister Amunugama told them that a criminal judgment commission act would be brought in to recover swindled public money, as the law could be enforced to punish the offenders only at present.

At a recent function, the minister said in this regard, “People know very well as who had swindled money from Norochcholai, Hambantota port and Mattala. Those who obtained commissions and swindled millions and billions of money today speak about protecting state institutions. Their asking for protection for state resources is like those who robbed the temple till speaking about building the shrine room.”

The cabinet has already approved the draft bill, reports also say.