Is Prof. Ranjith Bandara from SLPP a Corrupt Politician in Sri Lanka?

[ThinkTank]

Prof. Ranjith Bandara, a Sri Lankan politician and academic, has faced several serious allegations regarding corruption and unethical behavior during his tenure. These allegations include:

Conflict of Interest: As Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Bandara was accused of a conflict of interest involving Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The allegations centered around his private institution, which reportedly provided services to SLC, raising questions about the legality and ethics of his dual roles​ (Newswire)​​ (FrontPage)​.

Corruption and Impropriety: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa accused Bandara of using his position to benefit his private ventures, such as charging fees for preparing corporate plans for state enterprises summoned before COPE. Premadasa highlighted a specific instance involving the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority​ (LNW Lanka News Web)​.

Sexual Misconduct Allegations: Bandara has also been accused of sexual bribery by Opposition MP Hesha Withanage, who claimed that Bandara had sexually influenced a parliamentary officer. Bandara has denied these allegations and has called for an investigation, vowing to resign if found guilty​ (FrontPage)​​ (LNW Lanka News Web)​.

These allegations against Prof. Ranjith Bandara suggest a pattern of behavior that could undermine public trust in his ability to govern ethically and effectively. If true, they point to potential misuse of power and resources, conflicts of interest, and unethical personal conduct, all of which could have detrimental effects on governance and public perception of integrity in leadership.