Agriculture, Lands, Irrigation and Livestock Minister K. D. Lal Kantha has said that no one has the right to question where he came from, while adding that it is the responsibility of investigative journalists to determine whether he owns a mansion in Kandy.
The Minister made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists following a meeting held at the Kandy District Secretariat.
Addressing the media, Lal Kantha said that individuals who had previously held power while allegedly enriching themselves through corruption were now unsettled by ongoing investigations into political figures.
“A group that claimed to be elite rulers was in power for years, misusing public funds and amassing enormous wealth through fraud and corruption. Now they no longer have power or privileges. They no longer have official vehicles, mansions or even the pensions they enjoyed using public money. As a result, they are becoming agitated,” he said.
The Minister further stated that the Government was carrying out investigations and legal action against individuals accused of corruption in line with promises made to the public.
“We are arresting powerful politicians who portrayed themselves as elites and are accused of corruption. Investigations are being conducted by the relevant authorities, and those found guilty will face punishment. Even former Presidents are being summoned to provide statements. This has caused concern among those individuals,” he said.
Responding to questions regarding allegations about his personal assets, Lal Kantha dismissed the claims.
“Where do I have mansions? These questions are being raised by people who are facing allegations of misappropriating public funds. We are not concerned about such claims. Whether I came from Anuradhapura or somewhere else should not be an issue or a problem for anyone,” he said.
