SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said the leaders of the Sri Lankan government should take cue from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohommed on eliminating bribery and corruption. 

Addressing a public meeting in Anuradhapura, Dissanayake slammed at his own government's inability to punish those involved in bribery and corruption under the previous government. 

"In Sri Lanka, there is one law for politicians and one law for ordinary citizens. That is why we have failed in prosecuting those responsible for bribery and corruption," Dissanayake said. 

He added that the Police think twice before arresting high profile businessmen. 

"But they have no qualms about arresting poor people for minor theft," he said. 

The Minister, an ally of President Maithripala Sirisena, said the government must move fast on arresting those responsible for large scale cases of corruption within the next 18 months.