Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam today (29) warned that those responsible for corruption under the National People’s Power (NPP) government would be sent to prison when his party returns to power in the future.

Addressing the issue of state accountability, Kariyawasam accused the government of deliberately undermining the independence of the Auditor General’s office in order to shield itself from corruption allegations. He said the Auditor General plays a critical role in ensuring the proper use of public funds and in investigating fraud.

Despite repeated pledges to eradicate corruption, Kariyawasam alleged that the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has failed to appoint a permanent Auditor General for nearly ten months. He claimed the government had made several attempts to appoint “unsuitable” individuals who were favourable to the administration, but said those nominations were rejected by the Constitutional Council.

According to Kariyawasam, successive governments had respected the convention of appointing the most senior official from the Audit Department to the post, a practice he alleged the current President is attempting to abandon in favour of appointing a compliant associate.

He further claimed the delay was strategic, noting that the terms of three independent members of the Constitutional Council are due to expire soon. Kariyawasam alleged the government intends to fill those vacancies with loyalists to ensure approval for its preferred nominee.

Referring to what he described as the “323 container scam”, Kariyawasam accused the government of attempting to suppress investigations through reports prepared by a hand-picked Auditor General. He warned that those responsible for the alleged scam would be held accountable under a future government and said those found culpable would face imprisonment.

Kariyawasam stressed that the issue goes beyond party politics and poses a serious threat to democratic governance. Urging the public to rise above political affiliations, he described the current situation as an unprecedented attempt since independence to undermine the Auditor General’s office.

He added that the absence of a permanent Auditor General for nearly ten months has effectively stalled independent audits of government activities during this period.