Colombo, June 20 — Housing Deputy Minister T. B. Sarath revealed in Parliament yesterday that the controversial milch cow import project carried out during the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration has resulted in a staggering loss of Rs. 2,100 million to the state.
Speaking during the parliamentary session, the Deputy Minister stated that the financial damage incurred through this project — which spanned from 2014 to 2020 — is now irreversible. “This is a blatant destruction of public funds. The country is going bankrupt because of these kinds of decisions,” he said.
He further emphasized that all those involved in the alleged misconduct will be held accountable:
“Anyone involved in theft will be arrested in the future. We will punish everyone who stole this public money.”
Deputy Minister Sarath assured the House that legal action will be taken against those responsible, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to ensuring justice and restoring public trust in state governance.
The milch cow import project, launched under the promise of revitalising the dairy industry, has long been criticised for poor planning, questionable procurement processes, and high mortality rates among the imported cattle. Investigations into the matter have been called for by several sectors over the past years, with this latest disclosure reigniting demands for accountability.
