“Today the Whole Country Must Eat Plain Rice”: Udaya Gammanpila

11-Oct-2025

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Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila, stated that his criticisms of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption were intended only to steer it in the right direction. He made this remark while appearing before the Commission regarding his complaint over the release of 323 containers from the port in January without inspection.

Speaking to the media afterward, Gammanpila declared, “Today is a day when the whole nation must eat plain rice.” For the first time in history, he said, 323 containers had been released from the port without any inspection, and now, at last, the Bribery Commission has begun investigating this case.

He explained that his continuous criticism aims to guide the Commission properly and to halt the false dramas of Ranga Dissanayake. He welcomed the fact that, although nine months had passed since the container scandal in January, investigations had finally begun.

Former Customs spokesperson Sivali Arungkoda, who chaired the inquiry committee, had claimed that no narcotics, weapons, or substandard drugs were found in the containers. However, Gammanpila noted that containers carrying raw materials for narcotics production had indeed entered the country through the port around that time.

A subsequent report issued by a committee consisting of the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury found that the containers were released as a solution to port congestion, but that this justification could not be substantiated during investigations — revealing it to be false.

The report’s 27th page noted that the Director General had no legal authority to release containers without inspection and thereby evade responsibility. The 29th page recommended internal disciplinary action against those involved.

“Instead of punishing Sivali Arungkoda,” Gammanpila said, “President Anura Kumara Dissanayake promoted him to Director General, even though he was only three months away from retirement and two more senior officers were available. What message is the government sending to the people? That those who engage in fraud and corruption will be rewarded while they continue to do the government’s bidding,” he remarked.