President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed that information has surfaced about Parliamentarians and Ministers maintaining links with underworld figures.
He said investigations into a group of underworld leaders arrested recently in Indonesia uncovered these connections.
“The group was responsible for over 50% of Sri Lanka’s drug operations and involved in more than 75% of underworld activities. They also provided cash to certain politicians,” the President said.
He further alleged that some MPs visited the homes of underworld figures every month to collect money, while some ministers invited them to their own residences for payments.
“Like collecting taxes, this became a monthly routine. This information has now come to light,” President Dissanayake stressed, adding that these individuals had built a large network across the country.
The President vowed to take firm action to curb underworld activities and made these remarks while attending the launch of the resumption of construction on the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway today.
