In July 2022, former Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva faced allegations of soliciting a Rs. 200,000 bribe from Taisei Corporation, the company involved in the construction of a passenger terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport.
The company’s representatives reportedly brought the matter to the attention of the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, who then informed the President at the time, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Following this notification, Nimal Siripala de Silva resigned from his ministerial position on July 6, 2022.
The Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka at the time, Misukoshi Hideaki, is set to depart from Sri Lanka soon. In a recent interview with the Daily Mirror, Ambassador Hideaki was asked about the bribery incident. While he did not deny the occurrence, he expressed reluctance to discuss it further. He did, however, acknowledge that some Sri Lankan politicians have, on occasion, sought personal gains, and emphasized that he promptly reported such matters to the appropriate authorities whenever they arose.
