The family tree that dominates corruption

Find out how politicos got rich, you'll see how SL became poor; says AKD

by Zulfick Farzan 19-02-2020 | 6:14 PM

Colombo (News 1st) - Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Leader of the JVP said if politicians are investigated as to how they became rich, the manner in which the country became poor would be easy to understand. Speaking in Parliament today, Dissanayake revealed of relationships maintained by a close group of people responsible for large scale fraud and corruption.

Referring to the SriLankan Airlines - Airbus re-fleet deal, Anura Kumara Dissanayake said then Chairman of the then Board of Directors was Present Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother-in-Law. He said the board also included the son of Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the re-fleet related decision was made at Chamal Rajapaksa's residence and thereafter Kapila Chandrasena was made the CEO of the national carrier.

Dissanayake went on to note, afterward the Chairman of the Board which took the decision to cancel the deal, Ajith Dias is Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's classmate. He added, the then CEO Suren Ratwatte was Charitha Ratwatte's brother, another close friend of Wickremesinghe.

Moving on to the Bond Issuance of the Central Bank, Anura Kumara said when Ajith Nivard Cabraal was the Governor, his sister was on the board of Perpetual Treasuries Limited and several other relatives held positions in institutions which also deals in bonds.

After the 2015 election, Ranil Wickremesinghe moves the Central Bank under his purview and appoints Arjuna Mahendran, a close friend, as Governor. The JVP leader said Arjuna Mahendran carried out all functions in a manner that benefited his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius, who was the beneficial owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited.

Speaking on the controversial MiG Deal, he said the main accused Ex-Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga served in the post for almost 06 years while all other diplomats were changed every three years. The JVP Leader said, Udayanga Weeratunga is the cousin of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Another controversial figure evading court is Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, another cousin of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake said one would be able to determine how Sri Lanka became poor, if investigations take place as to how these individuals became rich. He went on to note, certain members of COPE attended sessions after taking advice from Arjuna Mahendran on the instructions of the Former Prime Minister. He said the very MPs who called for Ranil Wickremesinghe's arrest are now taking great steps to protect the main rogues in their camp.

He added, at the time even COPE members were summoned to Temple Trees for meetings to operate in a manner to protect the main suspects in the Bond Scam and they appear in the presence of the media following instructions given to them at those meetings. Anura Kumara Dissanayake said , MP Ranjan Ramanayake would testify to this claim.