No Other Candidate Has a Real Anti-Corruption Plan, Says Sri Lanka's Ranil

by Zulfick Farzan 12-09-2024 | 11:10 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Independent Presidential Candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed the issue of corruption and the recovery of stolen assets, emphasizing the need for a proper plan and legal framework.

When asked whether it is legally permissible for a state leader to take actions against corruption outside the judicial process, Wickremesinghe responded with a pointed critique of his opponents.

"Who is going to catch the thieves? To those making these accusations, I suggest they ask G.L. Peiris how to apprehend the thieves. If further assistance is needed, they can consult Nalaka Godahewa, who can tell them where the thieves are," he remarked, adding that his comments were made in jest.

Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of having a structured plan to combat corruption.

He recalled his tenure as Prime Minister, during which an agreement with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led to the appointment of Ananda Wijepala to lead the anti-corruption effort. "Now, they accuse us of not catching any thieves. What am I supposed to do about that? He was neither a lawyer nor a police officer, so the question should be asked: why was Ananda Wijepala appointed in the first place?" he questioned.

Highlighting the role of designated institutions in tackling corruption, Wickremesinghe emphasized the need for a robust legal framework and adequate resources. "We have already introduced the Anti-Corruption Act, but that alone is not enough. How do we recover assets acquired through criminal activities? To address this, we have introduced a Bill on assets gained through crime," he explained.

He also mentioned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts have made several recommendations, and an anti-corruption program is in place. "None of these measures have been proposed by any other candidate. Neither Anura nor Sajith’s plans include such initiatives. They are simply campaigning on two points: lowering the cost of living and catching thieves," he concluded.