AKD reveals how Water Project funds ended up in Nadesan's accounts

COLOMBO (News 1st); JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed the #PandoraPapers links to Sri Lankans, the Former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa, and her husband Thirukumar Nadensan in Parliament on Friday (8).

AKD told the house that on the 24th of December 2014 said Rs. 1 Bn was allocated for the Gin - Nilwala Water Project and on the 1st of January 2015 another Rs. 1Bn was allocated for this project and another Rs. 1 Bn was paid on the 6th of January 2015.

"Just days before the 8th January Presidential Elections the company in question was paid Rs. 4,011 Million. This company is called China CAMC (China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd.)," told Parliament.

He said that the Chinese company thereafter had sent the money to the company called Red Ruth Investments Ltd. which is owned by Thirukumar Nadesan, the husband of Former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa, embroiled in the #PanamaPapers leak.

"The Chinese company sent approximately $ 6 Million to the Hong Kong account of Nadesan," he said highlighting that there are serious concerns on making such payments ahead of the Presidential Elections.

Thiru Nadesan thereafter had purchased a 17 perch land from Malwana for Rs. 30 Million, while the actual price was Rs. 64 Million, AKD adding Nadesan claims he had taken a loan for Rs. 20 Million and the other Rs. 10 Million from a separate person as a loan for the purchase.

Dissanayake said Nadesan had settled the loan from his Nations Trust Bank account while money came to that account from Red Ruth Investments Ltd while money allocated for the Gin - Nilwala Project is deposited to his Red Ruth Investments Ltd. account in Hong Kong.

At this time, Education Minister stressed these are matters raised in court and therefore it should not be mentioned in the house of legislature.

However, Dissanayake said the monetary dealings in question are worse than the court cases, adding that his statements are on how money flowed into Thirukumara Nadesan's accounts.

At this time, SLPP MP President's Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe stressed that Dissanayake refrains from commenting on Thiru Nadesan's matters as there are cases taken up in the courts.

"It appears there are many who would appear for Thiru Nadesan in the house," remarked Dissanayake.

"The President has called for an investigation. Yet, the investigations in the court refer to concealing the truth and releasing the criminals," he said.

He went on to note that China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) that built the Hambantota Port at $ 1.3 Billion had spent $ 7.6 Million for the election campaign of the present Prime Minister.

"I have produced the documents with evidence for these claims," he told the house adding it is questionable as to why China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) would pay for the campaign for a single candidate.

He said fraud and corruption of this nature have been attributed to the country's economic crisis.

He added that CICT deposited more than Rs. 10 million to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, and thereafter CICT was allowed to construct the jetty.

'It is clear that these payments are links to projects," he said.