The National People’s Power Government (NPP) of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is likely to embark on mass scale arrests of former Members of Parliament and several high-profile officials in the previous regimes, following allegations against them with regard to corruption and various types of malpractices.

According to Government sources around 40 Parliamentarians who had even held ministerial portfolios, as well as their high-ranking officials have been listed to be arrested by law enforcement officials, following extensive details obtained with regard to misuse of powers under corruption and bribery charges.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his Presidential and Parliamentary election campaign had emphasised on political accountability. Therefore the authorities are all out to make a series of arrests aiming at prominent politicians including the members from the Rajapakse family with regard to corruption and all sorts of malpractices.

Already the former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella have been put behind bars over the charges of misusing power as well as engaging in corrupt activities.  

At present, law enforcement officials are extensively engaged in collecting evidence and framing charges against those who were in Parliament and holding key positions in the previous regimes.

Air and sea ports have also been alerted to be vigilant on preventing the high-profile suspects leaving the Island.

Political observers in the country have commented that it is the first time in the country’s history that high profile politicians in large numbers are going to be nabbed for their unlawful activities in the past.

Earlier, actions were merely taken to cover-up the fraudulent activities committed by  politicians and they had their escape routes to avoid the allegations framed against them. However, the NPP regime stands firm on sealing all escape routes and netting them to make them answerable to the law of the country.

The crackdown underscores a commitment to addressing long-standing issues of governance and restoring public trust, according to political observers.

According to a news report in a local daily on President Dissanayake’s action against former politicians, `National People’s Power before last year’s presidential election promised investigations into a rash of past alleged corrupt deals, murders, and the Easter Sunday attack before holding the wrong doers accountable.’

However, delays in fulfilling such promises resulted in public grumbling while opposition parties started a campaign to discredit the government for lying in its election campaign.

Under pressure, authorities in the new government have been able to arrest at least seven key political figures including top ex-Cabinet Ministers and a former Chief Minister over various charges.

The arrests have led to mixed reactions. Many people view the actions by the authorities as necessary steps toward eradicating corruption; some supporters of the accused argue that the moves are politically motivated.

These developments mark a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, reflecting a broader push for integrity and accountability within the nation’s governance structures. It is not only high-profile politicians of the previous regimes, but their immediate family members and friends who had engaged in all sorts of malpractices through their power and undue influence that are to be brought to book.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who was arrested in February 2025 over allegations of procuring counterfeit intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) drugs during his tenure, has been detained amid the ongoing court cases over the scandal.

The scandal involved bypassing standard tender procedures, leading to the import of substandard medications. Investigations revealed that forged documents were used for customs clearance, resulting in a misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 130 million.

Last week, former cricketer Ramith Rambukwella, the only son of the former Health Minister also was remanded by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC).