President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has clarified his stance on allocating funds to Local Councils, asserting that his government will not tolerate corruption at the local level.
Addressing concerns that only NPP-controlled councils would receive funding, the President firmly denied these claims. He emphasized that the Central Government’s priority is to ensure that public funds are utilized responsibly and are not misused by corrupt local bodies.
“We have diligently collected funds through the Inland Revenue and Customs departments. This money, which belongs to the people, cannot be handed over to corrupt local councils,” he stated.
The President highlighted the need for Local Councils to uphold the same standards of financial responsibility as the Central Government. He questioned why the Central Government should allocate funds to Local Councils that engage in corrupt practices while the Central Government itself maintains a high level of fiscal responsibility.
President Dissanayake reiterated that his administration will not hesitate to withhold funds from Pradeshiya Sabhas or Urban Councils that fail to demonstrate responsible financial management.