Courtesy Daily Mirror

Probe launched against Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister Bimal Rathnayake, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister Kumara Jayakody, Minister Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has initiated a probe under the Money Laundering Act 

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has initiated an investigation into the alleged assets of six ministers of the current NPP government under the Money Laundering Act, according to a letter from it. 

According to a copy of the letter which the Daily Mirror has seen, an investigation was launched following a formal complaint submitted to the Commission by Jamuni Kamantha Thushara, Chairman of the Organisation Citizens’ Power against Corruption and Waste. 

It was reported that Thushara submitted a complaint to the Bribery Commission on September 16, 2025, urging the Commission to launch an investigation into the alleged assets of five Cabinet ministers and one Deputy Minister under the Money Laundering Act.  

Accordingly, the Commission informed the Chairman of Citizens’ Power Against Corruption and Waste that the Illegal Assets Division of the Commission has decided to initiate investigations against Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, and Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Attorney Sunil Watagala. 

In a reply letter dated December 17, the Chairman was informed to appear before the Bribery Commission to record a statement to further clarify the facts regarding the complaint. 

Accordingly, under Section 49(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, the Commission has requested him to appear before the Commission at 9.00 a.m. today, along with relevant documents, to provide the statement. 

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody is already under investigation by the Bribery Commission in connection with alleged corruption involving the misappropriation of funds while serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015. 

This investigation is in addition to the ongoing probe in which the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has decided to institute legal action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over corruption complaints related to the same matter. 

That investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by Sanka Chandima Abeywardena, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Haritha Sangvidhanaya (Green Organisation). 

In September this year, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has also lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission regarding the assets of Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. 

Meanwhile, attempts by the Daily Mirror to contact the ministers concerned were unsuccessful.