Pressure mounts on Karu to intervene: Malik, Wimal, Keerthi demand release of PTL payment list Secy to Prez accused of suppressing info
Posted on June 1st, 2018
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
June 1, 2018, 10:40 pm
Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema has urged Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to release a list containing names of 118 recipients of funds from tainted primary dealer Perpetual Treasuries (PTL) or companies affiliated with it, if such a list existed.
In a letter dated June 1, 2018 addressed to Jayasuriya, the former UNP Chairman explained that how he, too, was being vilified in the social media as one of the beneficiaries.
Samarawickrema sent a copy of his letter that had been copied to Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC and IGP Pujith Jauasundera to The Island.
Samarawickrema said that he, under oath, had assured the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that he didn’t receive any money from PTL or companies affiliated with it.
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Samarawickrema sought Jayasuriya’s intervention close on the heels of National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s call to release the list when parliament resumes sittings next Tuesday (June 5). In a letter dated May 31, 2018, Weerawansa pointed out the existence of the list containing the names of 118 persons, including MPs that had not been presented to parliament. The MP asserted that allegations pertaining to PTL funds had humiliated the entire parliament.
Weerawansa told The Island that the Speaker could not turn a blind eye to the developing crisis.
Fresh crisis erupted after tainted MP Dayasiri Jayasekera, having admitted receiving a cheque in July 2015 from Walt and Row Associates, affiliated to PTL alleged that there was a list containing 118 names. Subsequently, civil society activist Keerthi Tennakoon alleged that among those who had benefited from the disgraced business group were 16 MPs representing the Government and the Opposition.
Tennakoon is on record as having said that among those recipients were professionals, civil society activists and religious leaders.
Tennakoon yesterday alleged that Secretary to the President Austin Fernando was making a bid to secure the help of the Attorney General to suppress the list.
Tennakoon told The Island that he was denied an opportunity to secure the list under the Right to Information Act or from the National Achieves.
Tennakoon said that his original allegation that a big chunk of the CoI report that had not been submitted to the parliament had been proved right. Subsequently, it had been revealed that over 5,000 pages hadn’t been submitted to parliament, Tennakoon said, pointing out how parliament was deceived.
There had never been a corruption case that could be compared with the treasury bond scam, Tennakoon said, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration could not deprive the public of their right to know the truth.
Tennakoon flayed the government for not taking action on the CoI recommendations submitted several months ago. Yahapalana leadership should be ashamed of their failure and brazen attempts to shield those who had benefited from the PTL as it would further aggravate the crisis, he said.
June 1st, 2018 at 7:29 pm
These BLOODY CROOKS of the Yamapalana Govt had better IMMEDIATELY RELEASE the names of ALL MPs who accepted BRIBES from Perpetual Treasuries, or FACE PROSECUTION LATER for INTENTIONAL DERELICTION OF DUTY when this Govt is soon REPLACED by a PATRIOTIC GOVERNMENT.
At the time these BRIBES were accepted, it was ALREADY KNOWN that Perpetual Treasuries led by Arjun Aloysius was INVOLVED in the Arjun Mahendran-led CENTRAL BANK BOND SCAM that had DEFRAUDED the citizens of Billions of Rupees.
THE ACCEPTANCE of BRIBES from a CORRUPT ORGANIZATION responsible for ROBBING the CENTRAL BANK, KNOWING that it is MONEY STOLEN from a GOVT ENTITY, is a CRIME against the NATION that AMOUNTS TO TREASON!
RELEASE the NAMES of the GANG of 118 NOW, and PROSECUTE THEM to the HILT!
June 1st, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Furthermore, The ACCEPTANCE of BRIBES DESIGNED TO SUBVERT\ the LEGISLATURE of the Nation on a MASSIVE SCALE is an UNPARALLELED CRIME amounting to TREASON against the NATION!
RELEASE the NAMES of the 118 CORRUPT MPs NOW, and PROSECUTE them to the HILT!
If OVER 1/2 of the MPs in Parliament, that is the MAJORITY of MPs, have ACCEPTED BRIBES, then this Parliament DOES NOT CONSTITUTE a LAWFUL BODY of VALID REPRESENTATIVES of the PEOPLE, and therefore, the PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE DISSOLVED IMMEDIATELY and NEW ELECTIONS should be held!
June 2nd, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Sinhala hating , Buddhist hating Catholic Austin Fernando was brought in as the President Secretary to keep a check on Simple Sirisena by Christian Ranil. He sees what comes, what goes and what happens in between at the President’s office. He is the keeper of the Sorrysena President in his cage.
He was Depath Naya’s former boss when he was only a lowly Gramasevaka and Fernando the Government Agent. What a jolly arrangement to keep the lowly in place – here goes conspiratorial Ranil at his best behaviour – planning and executing his masters’ plan to the letter. Sirisena even said – he will address Ranil as “Sir”! This man symbolises the lowest level Sri Lanka has reached in every sphere of activity including presidential decorum. His lowly demeanour during foreign travel and at meetings with national leaders of other countries put all of Sri Lanka to shame.
All those concerned, especially Sinhala Buddhists should keep a watch on Austin Fernando for what damage he can still install to the body politic of Sri Lanka. A very dangerous person – going by his previous Anti Buddhist work, now in place to execute the Western Agenda through Sorrysena!