Presidential Commission probe: 15 out of 16 ‘mega corruption’ cases dropped
Posted on November 22nd, 2015
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island
Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges has dropped investigations into at least 15 cases on the grounds that the state didn’t suffer revenue losses due to those transactions.
Having completed investigations into 16 cases, the Commission had recommended further legal action as regards only one of them, authoritative sources told The Island.
The Commission late last week informed the Attorney General and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to initiate action against former UPFA Gampaha District MP Sarath Kumara Gunaratne and four former Ceylon Fisheries Corporation officials over the Negombo lagoon development project implemented during the previous administration.
All complaints received by the Commission dealt with alleged corrupt transactions involving those who had been in power or their associates. The Commission admitted terminating investigations into 15 cases.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has criticised investigative process undertaken by the commission against him over the alleged failure to pay for his advertisements telecast by the state-owned ITN in the run-up to last presidential polls.
Addressing a public gathering at Kalutara on Saturday (Nov 22), the former president pointed out the shortcomings in the inquiry.
The presidential commission comprises four High Court judges, Preethi Padman Surasena (Chairman), Amendra Seneviratne, Vikum Kaluarachchi and Gihan Kulathunga and former Auditor General P. A. Premathilake. The Attorney General’s Department is represented by Senior State Counsel Sudarshana de Silva and Janaka Bandara.
Sources said that the Commission was in the process of inquiring into some more cases. The government assigned a special police team to inquire into complaints received by the commission in addition to providing required support from other state agencies.
November 22nd, 2015 at 11:29 pm
Where are the horses, Lamboghinis, planes, helicopters, Aston Martins, Thajudeens, white vans, gold plated roads, Marriot hotel Dubai, $1 billion bank accounts, million dollar mansions in USA, luxurious corporate jet?
What total BS!
But a new VVIP’s son who studied in USA has bought an up market apartment complex in NEW YORK for $0.5 billion. He and his thugs were involved in a scuffle with a DIG’s son in a hotel in Batticaloa sometime back. He has NO known job.
November 23rd, 2015 at 1:13 am
WHAT KIND OF A FRAUDULENT FAKE RIDE HAVE THE PEOPLE OF LANKA BEING TAKEN IN?
THESE NEW LEADERS HAVE NO PRINCIPLES OR CONSCIENCE WHATEVER…
November 23rd, 2015 at 2:48 am
The following statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Managala Samaraweera at Sirikotha on 6th or 7th of May 2015.
“According to some of the people we’ve been working with, they feel that the assets that have been siphoned off from this country by the Rajapaksa family at large may amount to 18 billion dollars”
If Samaraweera is a man, we may see his resignation tomorrow. Tilak Marapana was a man, he stood by his word. Now it is Samaraweera’s turn to prove what he is.
November 23rd, 2015 at 6:57 am
aravinda
Managala Samaraweera is not man so You agreed does not she need to resign !!!