Accused of cronyism, Kirielle dares govt. members to reveal information about their bank accounts

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip Kandy and District MP Lakshman Kiriella, speaking in Parliament, on Tuesday (8), challenged the government MPs and Ministers to reveal details of their bank accounts.

Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella said: “Can any of the MPs and Ministers in the government ranks tell this House how much money he or she has in his or her bank account? Is there at least a single MP who can do that? At the time of our government during a budget debate I revealed how much money I have in my bank account.

“I did that and even got faulted by my wife for doing so. She asked me why I had revealed it to the House because it consisted of what had been earned from practising law for over 20 years and inherited.”

Kiriella said so after SLPP Gampaha District MP Milan Jayatilaka, participating in the budget debate on the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Highways, accused the former of having allocated funds for the Ministry of Higher Education at the expense of the Highways Ministry. “MP Kirirella was the Minister of Higher Education and highways under the yahapalana government. While allocating Rs. 134 billion for highways, only Rs 77 billion was allocated for higher education. He gave road construction to a company by the name of Olympus, which did nothing but took away the money. There is a company called Kandy Construction. Its directors are his relatives, who controlled all construction contracts, the MP said.

Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella said: If you have any suspicion you can complain to the COPE. He mentioned a company called Kandy Constructions. I do not know of a company by that name and request that member to submit the names of the directors to Parliament so that we could see whether I have my relatives there. These are lies. Usually, when a backbencher speaks, others feed him with information. We too had the same experience. I sympathise with you. In 2017, the JVP brought a motion against me, making various allegations. In response to them, I revealed the figures of all money I have in bank accounts. Can you do the same?”

Opposition MPs shouted that they could.

Kiriella: So get up and tell the House how much you have in your account.

Transport Services State Minister Dilum Amunugama: There are many issues and problems before the COPE as regards the Highways Ministry. I do not know whether you are responsible for them, but there are issues.

Kiriella: So we can have a debate on the COPE report.

Hambantota District SLPP MP Dr Upul Galappaththi: We are ready to reveal the details of our bank accounts. Can you ask the former ministers who are now in the Opposition as MPs to do the same?

Badulla District SLPP MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake: We have given declarations of assets when we became MPs.

Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella: I am challenging you to get up here and tell the House.

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando: I respect our chief opposition whip, but what he is asking for is meaningless. Can anyone expect those who steal money to keep it in bank accounts?