Former Minister of Investment Promotion, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, says he feels proud—not ashamed—over indictments filed against him for approving newspaper advertisements congratulating former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Speaking to the media, Abeywardena responded to the charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against him and former Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI), Jayantha Edirisinghe. The case, filed before the Colombo High Court, accuses the two of causing a loss of over Rs. 1.7 million to the government by using BOI funds to publish newspaper advertisements in 2014.
According to CIABOC, the advertisements appeared in 11 newspapers on 19 November 2014, marking the anniversary of Rajapaksa’s second presidential inauguration. The Commission claims the use of BOI funds for this purpose constitutes an offence under the Anti-Corruption Act. The estimated financial loss to the state is Rs. 1,748,877.76.
Abeywardena said he learned of the indictment through media reports and clarified that the charges appear to be related to his approval of a congratulatory newspaper advertisement during his time as a minister. He explained that when a government institution wishes to publish an advertisement, it usually seeks approval from the relevant minister, who authorises it if it is deemed appropriate and lawful.
He questioned why this particular advertisement had been singled out for legal action when other ministries had also published similar congratulatory messages. He noted that during his tenure, advertisements often highlighted the post-war economic transformation and the increase in foreign investment.
Abeywardena also spoke of his contributions during his time in office, including the approval of major investments such as the Colombo Port City, luxury hotel developments, and industrial zones. He pointed out that despite being involved in billions of dollars’ worth of investment deals, no allegations of bribery or corruption had ever been made against him.
He argued that the congratulatory advertisements were not personal tributes but part of a broader national narrative celebrating the peace achieved after the end of the war in 2009, which paved the way for investment and economic growth. He cited data showing that annual foreign direct investment rose to nearly USD 2 billion by 2014, up from USD 700 million before the war ended.
Abeywardena said he does not consider the case a serious issue and believes it is politically motivated.
“If the worst thing they can say about me is that I approved a congratulatory message, then I wear that as a badge of honour,” he said. “I haven’t taken bribes, committed fraud, or misused public funds. People will see the contrast between this and the serious charges other politicians are facing.”
He said his legal team has already presented their position to the court and expressed confidence that the truth will prevail.
