By: Ovindi Vishmika
July 29, Colombo (LNW): As Sri Lanka grapples with multiple high profile legal cases involving prominent political figures, the country is witnessing a dramatic shift in the accountability of its public officials. With allegations ranging from land fraud to the illegal possession of firearms, the courtrooms have become the arena where the dark undercurrents of corruption, political maneuvering, and systemic abuse of power are being laid bare for public scrutiny.
The ongoing trials, involving prominent figures from former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera to former SLPP MP Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi, and former Minister Duminda Dissanayake, expose not just personal wrongdoing, but a much deeper and systemic issue that undermines public trust in the political establishment.
The Kiribathgoda Land Fraud: A Greed-Driven Land Heist
At the epicenter of the unfolding legal drama is former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, whose name has become synonymous with one of the most audacious land fraud cases in recent history. The accusations against Ranaweera, alongside his alleged accomplices, involve the illegal transfer of government-owned land in the Kiribathgoda area. This case, still in the early stages, reveals how government property that should have been used for public welfare was instead sold off for private gain.
Ranaweera and his associates stand accused of forging official documentation to make state land appear eligible for sale. The CID investigation claims that around 120 perches of land were fraudulently sold, with half of it retained by the accused, while the remaining portions were sold off in 7 perch plots, allegedly for construction purposes.
What stands out here is not just the audacity of the crime, but the deep-rooted culture of nepotism and corruption that enables such schemes to succeed. The land, intended for a government project to benefit the public, ended up in private hands making this not just a matter of legal breach, but a betrayal of the people’s trust.
As of May 2023, Ranaweera had evaded arrest and disappeared after the arrest of his political ally, Mervyn Silva, who is also implicated in the same fraud. Despite multiple search operations by the CID, Ranaweera remains elusive, highlighting how some politicians manage to evade accountability, even when the evidence against them is mounting.
Ranaweera’s eventual remand until August 04, and the high-profile bail application set for August 21, will be key moments in the saga. Sri Lanka’s legal system must now grapple with a question of political impunity whether the influential can truly be brought to justice or whether their positions will shield them from facing the full force of the law.
The Kuttiarachchi Apology: Political Remarks That Shook the Nation
In a separate case, Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi, a former MP from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), found himself in the legal crosshairs after making a series of inflammatory remarks about President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During a public rally in 2023, Kuttiarachchi alleged that Dissanayake had funneled Rs. 5 billion into Malta-based investments, a claim the President swiftly rejected as baseless and defamatory.
The remarks ignited a firestorm of controversy and culminated in a defamation lawsuit, with Dissanayake seeking Rs. 10 billion in damages. The case became more than just a legal matter,it became a test of political decorum, with the opposition’s rhetoric pushing the boundaries of truth and political strategy.
On July 29, 2023, in an unexpected twist, Kuttiarachchi appeared in court and issued an unconditional apology, acknowledging that his statements were inappropriate and regrettable. The apology came after his legal counsel confirmed that the former MP recognized the harm his words had caused to the President’s reputation.
While the case was settled amicably, it speaks volumes about the political gamesmanship that often defines Sri Lanka’s political discourse. Politicians are frequently quick to sling mud at their rivals, knowing that their words may be exaggerated, but often escape the consequences due to legal loopholes or the slow-moving judicial process.
Kuttiarachchi’s apology may have diffused the situation for now, but the incident raises pertinent questions about the level of accountability for public figures who make defamatory remarks with little evidence. In a country where political tensions run high, such cases only contribute to the fracturing of public trust in the political class.
Duminda Dissanayake and the T-56 Firearm Scandal: A Political Albatross
Perhaps the most bizarre case to surface recently involves Duminda Dissanayake, another former Minister, who found himself embroiled in an investigation over a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle discovered at a prominent apartment complex in Havelock Town.
The rifle was found inside a woman’s travel bag, sparking a Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) probe into the weapon’s ownership. Although the two women initially claimed they had mistakenly carried the firearm, the investigation soon pointed toward Dissanayake. A luxury vehicle associated with the former Minister had reportedly been used to transport the weapon.
In an unexpected turn, the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court later found no direct evidence linking Dissanayake to the firearm, and after several weeks in remand, he was granted bail in July. While the case may seem like an oddity, it underscores a deeper issue: the unfathomable access some political elites have to military-grade weapons and the secrecy that surrounds political dealings.
The Dissanayake case also highlights how evidence can be manipulated or dismissed, leaving the public questioning whether justice is being served or whether powerful figures are simply using the law as a tool for their own protection.
Systemic Corruption and Legal Impunity: A Nation at a Crossroads
Taken together, these cases paint a troubling picture of Sri Lanka’s political landscape. At the heart of each case lies a common thread: the exploitation of power for personal or political gain. Whether it’s land fraud, defamation, or illegal firearms, these incidents underscore the deep-seated corruption that has plagued Sri Lanka’s ruling elite for years.
For many Sri Lankans, these cases are not just isolated events but part of a larger pattern of political impunity. The frequent delays in the judicial process, the lack of swift action in holding the powerful accountable, and the perception that political connections offer protection from the law all contribute to a growing sense of disillusionment with the country’s leadership.
As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, the public’s faith in the political system will be tested. The Kiribathgoda land fraud case, Kuttiarachchi’s defamation lawsuit, and Dissanayake’s firearm investigation are all a microcosm of the broader challenges facing Sri Lanka’s governance.
Will these cases result in genuine reform, or will they be nothing more than another round of political theater? For a nation yearning for transparency, these cases could be the crucible in which Sri Lanka’s commitment to political accountability is either forged or further eroded.
