Agriculture, Land, Irrigation, and Livestock Minister K.D. Lal Kantha is currently embroiled in a significant public and official controversy concerning his newly constructed three-story residence in Kaduwela and his declared assets. The issue gained prominence after photos of an almsgiving ceremony at the house, attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, circulated on social media, sparking questions about the funding for the property.
Critics, including journalist Uvindu Kurukulasuriya and Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, have publicly questioned how a full-time political activist, who previously spoke of financial hardship, could afford such a luxurious home, 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 financed 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.
Further complicating the matter, a complaint was initially 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.
Minister Lal Kantha submitted his asset declaration to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on December 26, 2025, under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023. This declaration reportedly listed 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. However, former MP Sanjeeva Edirimanna highlighted that despite being a public document, the Minister's asset declaration was missing from the CIABOC website, prompting calls for clarification from the commission.
On April 17, 2026, Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), lodged a formal complaint with CIABOC, alleging discrepancies in the Minister's asset declaration. In response, Deputy Minister of Public Security, Sunil Watagala, affirmed the government's readiness to address any legal action, asserting that all of Minister Lal Kantha's assets were legally acquired.
The controversy escalated into a media dispute when Minister Lal Kantha sent a letter of demand to Hiru TV and Asia Broadcasting Corporation, initially seeking LKR 1 billion in damages. This demand was later increased to LKR 10 billion. His lawyer claimed Hiru TV broadcast a false and malicious report on April 16, 2026, misinterpreting his asset declaration and stating his assets exceeded LKR 460 million or LKR 4.6 billion. The Minister explicitly denied these figures, stating they were deliberately exaggerated and misinterpreted, particularly regarding property and company shares in his daughter’s name, and that the media's actions were intended to hinder his reputation and political journey.
In a significant development, Hiru TV admitted an error in its earlier reporting and issued a correction. The channel stated that previously published figures were the result of a calculation mistake, and the correct total gross value of assets declared by Minister K.D. Lal Kantha is around LKR 80 million, not LKR 460 million or LKR 4.6 billion. Furthermore, the channel corrected its report on the minister's securities, stating their value is approximately LKR 143,475, rather than the previously reported LKR 383.9 million. Hiru Media Network's lawyers, Sudath Perera Associates, formally responded to the Minister's letter of demand on April 21, 2026, rejecting all allegations and demands. They asserted that the April 16 news report was not intended to defame the Minister and was published without malice, reiterating that corrections were broadcast on April 18 across their platforms.
Amidst these developments, New Janatha Peramuna (NJP) leader Suguishwara Bandara and party members visited Minister Lal Kantha's house in Weliwita, Kaduwela, on April 18, 2026, with Bandara claiming that 38 similar houses are being constructed by 38 NJP/JVP MPs/Ministers.
Separately, several civil organizations lodged a complaint with CIABOC, calling for an investigation into Minister K.D. Lal Kantha's asset acquisition methods and allegations of purchasing crude oil at an inflated price of $250 per barrel when the world market price was around $150.
Minister Lal Kantha has also lodged complaints against Hiru TV with the Ministry of Mass Media on April 21, 2026, citing 16 points of alleged false and misleading reporting, and with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) on April 22, 2026. The complaint to TRCSL alleges that Hiru TV seriously violated its broadcasting frequency license conditions.
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the Ministry of Mass Media will take necessary action regarding complaints received against media institutions for violating broadcasting frequency license conditions. The TRCSL has confirmed it will consider Minister Lal Kantha’s complaint against the television channel today, April 23, 2026. TRCSL Director General, Retired Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath, stated that their final decision will be announced based on the conclusions reached by the Ministry of Mass Media regarding the matter.