Agriculture, Land, Irrigation, and Livestock Minister K.D. Lal Kantha is currently facing significant public and official scrutiny regarding his newly constructed three-story residence in Kaduwela and his declared assets. The controversy began after photos of an almsgiving ceremony at the house, attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, circulated on social media, prompting questions about the source of funds for the luxurious property. Critics, including journalist Uvindu Kurukulasuriya and Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, have questioned how a full-time political activist, who previously spoke of financial hardship, could afford such a house, especially given his long career without traditional employment.
Minister Lal Kantha has defended the construction, stating he purchased two land plots (7 and 6 perches) and funded the house by selling dilapidated ancestral property in Matale and his wife's property in Kandy. He asserts that the house was completed *before* he became a minister and that no illicit methods were used, dismissing critics as jealous. However, a complaint has been filed with the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission by 'Citizens' Power Against Bribery, Corruption, and Waste', requesting an investigation into the source of his wealth.
Further complicating the matter, Minister Lal Kantha submitted his asset declaration to the Bribery Commission on December 26, 2023, under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023. This declaration reportedly lists immovable property valued at over Rs. 67 million, including a residential building and land valued at Rs. 6 million received via a gift deed, and another property valued at Rs. 56 million. While some sources cite total assets exceeding Rs. 460 million, the specific details of the Kaduwela house's inclusion in this declaration remain a point of public discussion.