Former Presidential Advisor Hemakumara Nanayakkara alleged that Ministers of the government are like prisoners.

“The senior Ministers are like prisoners unable to do what they want to do - even the rest of the cabinet ministers are treated like prisoners. All the funds are concentrated among a few people and many of these Ministers are angry about it. The ministers don’t have any funds to work with,” he said.

Nanayakkara said the state machinery was completely ridden with corruption. “Corruption exists at all levels; previously it was only the politicos who were involved but now it has moved down to the officials and bureaucrats and many Ministers have spoken to us about this,” he said.

When questioned by the Daily Mirror as to whom, the former Galle District heavyweight blamed for the current predicament, Nanayakkara said he did not wish to directly point fingers.

“It is the government that is responsible. I don’t wish to point fingers directly at anybody. The Ministers are also responsible and should be blamed for failing to put their foot down against this” he said.

Nanayakkara said the country would ‘come to a grinding halt’ if action wasn’t taken against this. (Hafeel Farisz)