Member of Parliament attorney at law Mr Wasantha Yapabandara has filed a complaint with the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission against Tourism, Sports, and Youth Affairs Minister Harin Fernando, as well as Labor and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara. The complaint alleges that both ministers are misusing public funds and property by organizing music shows and events nationwide, which are claimed to be aimed at supporting their election campaigns for the upcoming presidential election.
Yapabandara accuses Minister Harin Fernando of squandering Youth Service Council funds on music concerts that were not part of the annual plan. He alleges that millions of rupees are being spent on foreign artists and election-related activities. The MP also claims that these expenditures are part of a broader strategy to secure electoral victory by making the events appear as youth engagement activities.
Further, Yapabandara criticized the misuse of state resources, including the allocation of over 200 acres of land in Hypod Watta, Nawalapitiya, which has been distributed to political allies without proper legal documentation. He warned that continued illegal activities would lead to legal consequences for those involved.
The MP also highlighted concerns about the extravagant spending on music events, with claims of significant funds being used for artists, stages, and accommodations, rather than addressing pressing youth issues. Yapabandara called on the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission to take immediate action against these abuses and urged the public to focus on solving real youth employment and training problems rather than supporting misleading electoral stunts.
He criticized the government’s efforts to manipulate public perception and electoral outcomes through lavish and deceptive campaigns, emphasizing the need for genuine solutions to youth challenges rather than orchestrated events.
