Colombo Wire: Serious Allegations Surface Over Rishad Bathiudeen’s Political Conduct
Political Correspondent
Former Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has once again found himself at the centre of disturbing political allegations, following claims attributed to one of his confidants that raise questions about trust, confidentiality, and political ethics at the highest levels of government. According to this account, Bathiudeen is alleged to have privately admitted that, during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister, he routinely leaked confidential Cabinet discussions to then-JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, enabling those matters to be raised strategically in Parliament. Colombo Wire has not independently verified this claim, and attempts to obtain direct confirmation are ongoing.
If substantiated, such conduct would amount to a serious breach of Cabinet collective responsibility and the Cabinet Code of Conduct, which strictly prohibits the disclosure of confidential deliberations. The same source claims Bathiudeen justified these alleged leaks as part of his “political strategy,” and further suggested that this history is the basis for his claimed closeness to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today. However, political observers note that if Bathiudeen indeed passed privileged information selectively for tactical gain, it would call into question his credibility and trustworthiness across the political spectrum, regardless of party affiliation.
Even more troubling is a separate allegation relating to the chaotic political transition following former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s flight from Sri Lanka. Multiple political insiders allege that Bathiudeen attended a closed-door Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) meeting—where Sajith Premadasa and senior figures were discussing support for Dullas Alahapperuma as a consensus presidential candidate—while allegedly allowing Basil Rajapaksa to listen to the proceedings via an open phone connection. According to these claims, the information discussed during that meeting was subsequently relayed to Ranil Wickremesinghe, enabling rival camps to anticipate and counter the SJB strategy. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s eventual elevation to the presidency, critics argue, cannot be fully understood without examining whether such internal deliberations were compromised. These allegations, too, remain unverified but have circulated widely in Colombo’s political circles.
Further concerns have emerged regarding Bathiudeen’s alleged interactions with foreign diplomatic missions. One Sri Lankan national based in the United Kingdom has claimed that Bathiudeen lodged a complaint against him at the British High Commission in Colombo, providing what the individual describes as a false and misleading account of his political activities and professional work in the research sector. The individual claims he later became aware of the substance of the conversation through technological means, though no independent confirmation of this claim has been presented. Diplomatic sources declined to comment, citing confidentiality.
Questions also persist regarding Bathiudeen’s financial affairs. Critics continue to ask what became of funds reportedly received from Middle Eastern sources for housing projects in Mannar, and whether those projects were ever completed as intended. Additional scrutiny has been directed at Bathiudeen’s personal wealth, including the financing of his daughter’s wedding, his income prior to entering politics, and allegations—so far unproven—of overseas bank accounts, including in Malaysia. Colombo Wire understands that certain financial institutions in the region are under broader international scrutiny, and there are unconfirmed reports that Sri Lankan actors have urged U.S. authorities to examine whether any transactions linked to Bathiudeen may have breached international sanctions regimes.
Taken together, these allegations paint a picture—contested but persistent—of a politician accused by critics of leaking information across party lines for personal survival and influence. Until verified by competent authorities, these claims remain allegations. Nevertheless, political analysts argue that diplomats, policymakers, and the current government would be prudent to exercise caution in their engagements, as the central question remains unresolved: can Rishad Bathiudeen be trusted with confidential information, or has political expediency consistently overridden institutional integrity?