Sri Lankan Government Promises Millions but Proves Nothing, Yet Spends More Public Money Hunting a Case That Has No Practical Proof

Jatinder Singh, Jadetimes Contributor

J. Singh is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

---

Image Source: Reuters

The Sri Lankan Government has once again shown a dangerous pattern that is becoming impossible to ignore: make massive public promises, provide no transparent proof of delivery, and then waste additional public money chasing politically convenient narratives that cannot be practically proven. At a time when citizens are suffering daily due to economic hardship, unemployment, inflation, and the rising cost of living, this approach is not only irresponsible, it is an insult to the intelligence of the public and a betrayal of taxpayer trust.

When disaster affected families lost their property and security, the Sri Lankan Government went public with bold compensation promises that sounded like a lifeline to victims. The announcements were widely spread and clearly communicated to the people. The government promised LKR 10 lakhs even for minor damage such as a sheet of roofing being blown away, and compensation reaching nearly LKR 50 lakhs for land and another LKR 50 lakhs for the house. These were not ordinary statements. These were serious commitments made in the face of tragedy. For many affected citizens, such promises provided temporary hope that the Government would stand with them in their most difficult hour.

But time has passed, and the biggest question remains unanswered: Where is the proof? Who are the real recipients? Where are the verified beneficiary lists? Where are the official disbursement reports? Where are the publicly auditable documents showing that these amounts were truly delivered as promised? What the people see is not eviden, but repeated claims and political messaging. Without transparent documentation, such promises become indistinguishable from propaganda. Sri Lankan citizens do not live on press statements; they live on results. If money was truly paid, then proof must be published. If not, then the Government must admit that the promise was more political than practical.

Instead of addressing public demand for transparency on these compensation amounts, the Sri Lankan Government has allowed the national conversation to be dragged into another direction a court-centered controversy linked to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Image Source: AP

What makes this situation more alarming is that the case being pursued appears unpractically provable, yet it continues to consume public attention, institutional effort, and, most importantly, public funds. In any democracy, legal accountability matters. But accountability must be evidence driven, not politically manufactured. When a case is driven without solid practical proof, it becomes less about justice and more about political theatre.

All educated Sri Lankans understand a basic fact that cannot be twisted: Ranil Wickremesinghe attended public events as the President of Sri Lanka, not as a private individual trying to secure personal recognition. A President represents the Republic, not personal ambition. When institutions invite and acknowledge the Head of State, that is not an unusual scandal; it is standard diplomatic and ceremonial protocol. Attempting to reshape this into a dramatic allegation without practical evidence reflects not strong governance, but weak political tactics aimed at public distraction.

What is even more troubling is that, despite official material already being available publicly, the Sri Lankan Government still decided to send teams to meet university officials again, using public money once more. This move raises serious concerns, not only about priorities, but also about possible misuse of public funds. Why was such a mission necessary when the university had already released the official graduation ceremony video? In that video, the university clearly recognizes the invitee as the President of Sri Lanka and expresses honour in hosting him. When clear public evidence exists, sending yet another team looks less like governance and more like spending for optics.

Therefore, the Sri Lankan public has the right to demand answers. If the Government claims this mission was essential, then it must prove it. Release the budget report. Publish the travel costs, allowances, accommodation expenses, operational expenses, and the total amount spent. Publish the names and designations of those involved. Publish the exact evidence they claim to have gathered. If the Government truly discovered something new, it should be released transparently. If they discovered nothing new, then the mission becomes an unjustifiable expenditure, and the people deserve to know why their money was wasted.

Sri Lanka is a country where public money must be treated as sacred. When families struggle to survive, when students struggle for opportunities, when disaster victims struggle for stability, it becomes morally unacceptable for leaders to treat public funds as unlimited fuel for political agendas. The people did not elect a Government to run repeat investigations for media attention. The people did not pay taxes so that officials can travel, hold meetings, and produce narratives while national issues remain unresolved. And the people certainly did not accept economic hardship so that public resources could be directed toward chasing a case that cannot be practically proven.

If the Sri Lankan Government wants credibility, it must stop using words as a replacement for evidence. Promises must be matched with publicly verified delivery. Compensation must be matched with transparent payment records. Investigations must be matched with measurable outcomes. And public spending must be matched with full accountability. Without this, Sri Lanka will continue to be trapped in a cycle where leaders announce large numbers, the people wait for real relief, and money quietly disappears into political systems that do not serve citizens.

This is no longer a matter of politics. This is a matter of public trust, economic ethics, and national dignity. Sri Lanka deserves a Government that delivers, not one that speaks loudly, proves nothing, and then spends even more public money attempting to chase narratives instead of solving the problems of the people.