Sri Lanka’s new govt. to investigate former President for corruption
former President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka’s new government has outlined plans for a wave of anti-corruption investigations targeting Chinese-funded infrastructure projects developed under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
On January 8, Rajapaksa, a strongman who had appeared to settle in for the long term, conceded defeat to opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena, who pledged to tackle graft with a special commission targeting corruption in public works after criticising Rajapaksa’s government for awarding non-bid contracts and paying inflated prices.
Much of these projects were laid out near Rajapaksa’s southern hometown of Medamulana.
One political party, the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has already called on the Bribery and Corruption Commission to probe Rajapaksa, his family members, and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the former governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, over allegations linked to the multi-billion projects. Continue reading
