FR filed against Cabraal over misappropriation of over Rs. 23 Bn

Colombo (News 1st); A Fundamental Rights application was filed with the Supreme Court on Monday (20) against State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

The application was filed by Venerable Theeniyawala Palitha Thero alleging State Minister Cabraal had misappropriated over Rs. 23 billion in public funds. "Ajith Nivard Cabraal wasted public funds to the tune of USD 6.5 million which is around Rs. 1332 million in local currency to pay off US lobbyist Imaad Zuberi who is a secret agent of the Central Intelligence Agency," alleged the Venerable Thero. Imaad Zuberi is serving a prison term of 12 years in the United States, whilst the one who gave the money has entered parliament through the National List and is now serving as the Minister of Money enjoying certain luxuries, the Venerable Thero added. However, based on information, what Cabraal has done is a serious criminal act as per Article 150 of the Constitution, which refers to the removal of funds from the Consolidated Fund, pointed out the Venerable Thero. "Mr. Cabraal has a history of largescale fraud and irregularities committed in the past," he noted adding that according to a COPE report about the Hedging Fund, a massive loss of Rs. 10.2 billion was incurred in Sri Lanka. In addition to that, Cabraal wasted public funds worth Rs. 10 billion through bond issuance of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015, and Rs 2.1 billion through the Greek Bond Transaction, alleged the Venerable Thero. "All these are taxpayers' money. Every child in the country at present and who are yet to be born in the future already owes Rs. 700,000 each to the country and the world," he added. "Under the 1982 Public Property Act No. 12, such payment of money is entirely wrong and illegal. I think public funds worth more than Rs. 23 billion has been destroyed with the knowledge of Ajith Nivard Cabraal," said the Venerable Thero. Venerable Theeniyawala Palitha Thero speaking to reporters said Ajith Nivard Cabraal and P.B. Jayasundara who are connected to such massive acts of fraud, corruption, and misappropriation of public property, be excluded from any state operations and they are punished by the law. He said the Fundamental Rights application was filed with the Supreme Court requesting the court to direct the Attorney General to file criminal charges against Ajith Nivard Cabraal and others. Further, the Venerable Thero requests the court to order the Secretary to the Finance Ministry and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to take the necessary legal action to recover the massive public funds misappropriated in this manner. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7oNdPEBHHo[/embed]