Colombo, Dec 19: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Thursday said the government would not seek the support of former leaders accused of corruption in the ongoing disaster recovery fund-raising process, stressing that public trust and clean governance were central to securing domestic and international assistance.
Speaking in Parliament, the Prime Minister said the response from both the public and the international community had been positive due to confidence in the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Responding to a suggestion by MP Rauff Hakeem that former Presidents be involved in appealing for international support, Amarasuriya said involving leaders who had lost public trust would undermine the credibility of the recovery effort.
She noted that past allegations of corruption linked to disaster situations had eroded confidence, and said the current government intended to ensure that fund-raising initiatives remained free from such controversies.
“The trust on the government due to its uncorrupt governance has been a main reason for the people and the international community to come forward and help us,” the Prime Minister told Parliament, adding that maintaining that trust was essential for effective recovery and relief efforts.
