'Blame Rajapaksa, Not China' President Says On Corruption

President Maithripala Sirisena said that it is wrong to blame China for corruption in Chinese funded development projects in Sri Lanka, adding that all development projects launched under the former president Rajapaksa’s government were corrupt.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya recently, he said that it is not fair to accuse China or any other country for corruption.

He added that China is a good investor for Sri Lanka.

The president further said that corruption was rife behind the façade of development during the former regime. “One cannot blame a country or an individual for that” he added.

Sirisena pledged that grants and loans received by Sri Lanka will be directed to development projects without giving space for corruption.

The president added that he had no undue hurry in investigating allegations of corruption under the former regime. He pledged that all wrongdoers will be given the maximum possible punishment in due course.