Anti-Corruption Drive Exposes the Desperation of Sri Lanka’s Smear Campaign Machine
The current government is carrying out what may be the most decisive campaign in decades to free Sri Lanka’s political and administrative system from the deep-rooted corruption that has long infected it. What was once dismissed as a campaign promise made on election platforms is now becoming a practical reality.
As a result, a group of corrupt politicians and officials has become increasingly agitated. Realising that the wealth they amassed through improper means and the extraordinary privileges they enjoyed for years are beginning to slip away, they have now turned to a bankrupt strategy: paralysing the state through crude smear campaigns.
Disaster Management and the Collapse of Corrupt Hopes
Corrupt forces who had hoped that the country would descend into chaos after Cyclone Dithwa received a major setback when the government placed the armed forces at the forefront of disaster management.
The government’s swift move to deploy the military and restore normalcy became one of the main reasons for the frustration among these groups. From rescuing victims to providing relief, the armed forces played a central role in helping the country recover.
As the country began to stabilise, those who could not tolerate this success sought instead to attack the military leadership through orchestrated smear campaigns aimed at destabilising the country.
Inside an Organised Smear Operation
Whenever anti-corruption laws begin to bite in any country, resistance is inevitable. But what Sri Lanka is witnessing today is not ordinary criticism — it is a highly organised and carefully planned smear campaign.
Its main objective is to destroy the reputation of senior officials leading the anti-corruption fight. By mentally exhausting and intimidating them, the aim is to weaken their resolve, obstruct their actions and erode public confidence in the government.
One of the most recent targets of this campaign has been the current Army Commander. His bold decisions to dismantle corrupt networks that had become entrenched within the military appear to have made him a primary target.
What is particularly striking is that many of the loudest voices behind these smear campaigns are former military personnel who were dismissed or expelled from service.
The irony is difficult to ignore. Some of these individuals were removed from the military after being accused of sexual misconduct, fraud, corruption and leaking military information to outsiders. Yet they now present themselves as advisers to the President on how to “reform” the military.
Fraud at the Army Hospital
The smear campaign against the Army Commander appears to have intensified after his intervention to stop large-scale corruption linked to the Army Hospital.
There were allegations involving irregularities in the procurement and use of medicines and medical equipment meant for the welfare of soldiers and their families. Reports also emerged that even influential former figures had improperly benefited from the facilities of the military hospital.
As these practices were exposed, those involved reportedly reacted with panic and anger.
A group of military officers who had lost privileges, along with anti-government factions supporting them, began using paid social media campaigns not only to attack the Army Commander himself, but even members of his family.
Despite this, the Army Commander has reportedly refused to change course, making his refusal to bow to pressure one of the more significant victories in the wider anti-corruption effort.
Cleaning Up the Military
The effort to clean up the military began with legal action against officers who had long been considered untouchable due to their connections with powerful individuals.
For years, many believed they were protected. Being forced to face the law has come as a shock to them.
Those who once defended their political patrons are now using the same hands to throw mud in every direction. Their sole objective appears to be obstructing the anti-corruption programme.
These groups are now said to be working closely with corrupt political forces in the country. One of their strategies has been to create mistrust between the government and the military leadership.
Their efforts to damage that relationship have been relentless. However, after witnessing the military’s role in managing the Dithwa disaster response, the President has reportedly not been swayed by the propaganda coming from dismissed officers, individuals accused of sexual misconduct and other corrupt networks.
As a result, the strong trust and understanding between the government and the military leadership appear to be frustrating these efforts.
The “Journalists” Behind the Campaign
Another aspect of this smear campaign has been the use of sections of the media.
Individuals posing as journalists, but allegedly influenced by corrupt interests, have attempted to embarrass senior government figures.
At a recent cabinet press conference, one such individual tried to suggest that there was a conflict between the government and the military by questioning Minister Vijitha Herath.
However, the minister’s response reportedly exposed the weakness of the claim and left the questioner embarrassed. For supporters of the government, it was seen as a sharp rebuke to those trying to manufacture political conflict.
Answering Smears With Results
The goal of corrupt groups is clear: to halt the anti-corruption campaign and return to a system where they can continue operating without scrutiny.
But the environment in Sri Lanka is changing.
The government and military leadership appear to have adopted a different approach — rather than descending into the mud with those spreading allegations, they intend to respond through action and results.
The military remains the backbone of national security. Turning it into a clean and corruption-free institution is a national responsibility.
For that reason, every effort to enforce the law without fear must be supported. In the end, it will not be the anger of corrupt networks that prevails, but the determination of honest people who genuinely care about the country.