Anti-corruption drive must also focus on those facing charges within

PRESIDENT Anura Kumara Disanayake was addressing a conference of Bhikkus in Colombo as the news broke that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had been granted bail by the Fort Magistrate Court for a case involving an alleged misappropriation of public funds. In the lead up to the bail hearing, momentum had been gathering outside the court with supporters of Wickremesinghe coming together to protest at what they called a politically motivated case against the former president.

- 

There was also a rare show of unity by almost all the leading opposition political parties who saw an attempt by the NPP to clamp down on political opponents by framing them. To underscore that such agitations will not make the Government lose sight of its anti-corruption drive, the President said that the law will be applied equally on all citizens. “Those found guilty of corruption will face strict punishment, no matter their position or influence,” he said. Its anti-corruption slogan has been the main driving force behind the Government.