Civil litigator and independent presidential candidate Nagananda Kodituwakku is determined to bring about a meaningful and lasting change in Sri Lanka if he is elected president. Below are excerpts of his interview with The Sunday Morning: What made you decide to contest this presidential election? I was forced to leave the country in 2001 under terrible circumstances and returned to the motherland in 2009 and tried my best – every available opportunity was used in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal to restore the rule of law in this country...I decided to contest to bring about a change in this country and to ensure that the rule of law is protected and upheld. How are you different from the other candidates? All the other candidates want to become the president of this country. Whereas Nagananda is coming forward asking a mandate from the people for a complete change of the system. He’s proposing that if there is to be change in the country, if you want to take the country in the right direction, then this is the way – if you approve the Constitution that he is proposing, then the whole system will completely change. You are a new face to politics and the people need to know who you are and what your background is. What happened to you while you were a customs officer? I joined Sri Lanka Customs in 1978 as an Assistant Superintendent of Customs. My character from day one has been the same. I hate people who compromise their integrity. I dealt with major cases including the case of the Rs. 876 million massive fraud case which involved the then Finance Minister. It was fraud involving a group of companies and they trapped me for bribery on 13 February 1986. But I had informed my superiors beforehand that I felt this group was going to frame me for bribery. But my time was wasted because of this case from 1986 to 1991. Then I joined Law College. One lawyer, made a complaint against me to the Council of Legal Education and my studentship was suspended for 10 years. Finally, after I rejoined, I passed out of Law College with first class honours. Then I was taken back to Customs and assigned to the Special Intelligence and Investigations Unit. I still took major cases and the Customs Head was brought under pressure by the Government. I had to face great difficulty. My wife’s life was threatened. Then my boss advised me to go underground and I was granted indefinite leave – something not given to public servants. But finally he wrote to the British High Commission and said that he could not protect me. On 21 September, I left the country and went to England for the safety of my family. How do you hope to fund your campaign and would you be transparent about campaign finances despite some candidates not being so forthcoming? I will be 100% transparent. I set up an account at the Bank of Ceylon specifically for this purpose without a cheque book or money withdrawal facilities. The account is in my name but if I want to use money from this then I will give the details of whom the payment needs to be made to and the amount. Then the bank manager is the one who will certify and release the money. Many have said that I will take this money and return to England. But I have renounced my British citizenship. (SG)