Post-war Shangri-La development crucial, says Peiris after graft inquiry

Prof. G. L. Peiris stated he harboured no concerns about being summoned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to provide a statement as part of an active inquiry. Speaking to journalists outside the CIABOC office, the former diplomat underscored the strategic significance of post-war development initiatives, including the Shangri-La investment, for the nation's economic recovery and regional engagement.

Peiris emphasised that engaging with investigative authorities was a normal process and reflected his confidence in both the integrity of his actions and the country's institutional frameworks. He reiterated that infrastructure and tourism-related investments undertaken in the post-conflict period remained vital to Sri Lanka's development trajectory.

The questioning by CIABOC forms part of the commission's ongoing investigation into matters related to the project. Peiris's appearance before the anti-corruption body comes as scrutiny intensifies around major development initiatives undertaken during the post-war period and the decision-making processes that shaped them.

The former minister's public remarks seek to contextualise the inquiry within broader national development priorities, suggesting that post-war reconstruction projects warrant continued consideration despite investigative proceedings into their execution and management.

Photo: G.L. Peiris, then Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, May 2012. U.S. Department of State via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).