Colombo Telegraph is in a position to reveal that the Tourism Ministry is planning to hold two mass Chinese weddings in Colombo this year, in partnership with a dubious company owned by the brother of Felix Srimal Rodrigo, the controversial “Senior” Advisor to Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga.
Rodrigo brothers
Green Leaves Leisure (Pvt) Ltd., a subsidiary of Green Leaves Group, owned by Felix Rodrigo’s brother Harindra Rodrigo is at the centre of the multi-million-rupee wedding deal. The mass weddings featuring 100 Chinese couples will take place as an initiative by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau coming under the Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Ministry of which Rodrigo is an Advisor.
Colombo Telegraph exclusively revealed how Felix Rodrigo made an attempt to siphon Rs. 6 million from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) to his brother’s dubious company following a similar event in December, 2017.
The event “The Royal Wedding Ceremony of Sri Lanka” (RWCS 2017) in which 100 Chinese couples got married in Sri Lanka was handled by the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Bureau (SLTPB). Following the event, Rodrigo managed to send a directive to Udaya Nanayakkara, former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau to pay Rs. 6 million to his brother’s company for “hosting” the event.
When Udaya Nanayakkara flatly refused to make this suspicious payment, he was immediately sacked by the Minister. Although Nanaykkara was sacked, his bold intervention prevented the SLTPB from paying Rs. 6 million to the Rodrigo company.
Sources from the Tourism Ministry said with Nanayakkara out of the institution this year, the Rodrigo brothers will conveniently cut the wedding deal. Even though it is not exactly clear as to how much Rodrigo is planning to pay his brother this year, they said the ministry had confirmed its plans to hold two mass Chinese weddings in September and November.
The Prime Minister’s office, Colombo Telegraph learns, has initiated an inquiry into Felix Rodrigo following complaints lodged by multiple parties. A spokesman from the Prime Minister’s Office said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would soon summon Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga to discuss the controversy surrounding his “senior” advisor Rodrigo. (By Thilini Karunarathne)
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Gunasekera / May 19, 2018
Why can’t the Prime Minister sack John and his corrupt adviser?
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Native Vedda / May 20, 2018
Gunasekera
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“Why can’t the Prime Minister sack John and his corrupt adviser?”
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On what charges?
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Leonard / May 20, 2018
Native Vedda
Some ideas for charges,
Been To Stiff, Carrying on with Stiffly for too long, Too Hard on, Erecting tent pole inside a house, Pitching a Tent with a female other than the spouse, Wasting hospitable time with unauthorized Bonner, Hiding a endangered One eyed trouser snake under the sarong. Not been able to finish the Full Salute, Having a Morning Glory in the night, list goes on.
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shankar / May 20, 2018
he does not have the balls.He is a fifth string leader after preme,lalith,gamini,ranjan.
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Leonard / May 20, 2018
John Amarathunga is a Perennial Bona – fide one heck of a HARD man to get rid.
“How HARD ON is he you may ask “
He is the walking advertisement for a “VIAGRA STIFF MAN” . He works Religiously to keep this going.
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kolla / May 20, 2018
Why cannot the Prime Minister sack himself for corruption ?
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Vul balla / May 19, 2018
I am surprised that a top professional like Dinesh Weerakkody is a member of this corrupt family. Isn’t he going to do anything get rid of this buffoon of an advisor ????
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Henry Fernando / May 19, 2018
How can the PM do that now, If he does,he has to follow suit with many others in a row. He should have done this immediately after he assumed power starting from the crooks of past regime as promised by him and the President but alas both are in hot water and are trying to salvage themselves.
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shankar / May 20, 2018
henry
better late than never
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shankar / May 20, 2018
also henry,remember he could not do that at that time because he himself was planning to rob his own central bank with the heist of the century.Now that that has fizzled out like a damp sqib he can start sacking the crooks now.
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Champa / May 19, 2018
This is not tourist promotion. The last time people questioned as to whose money was wasted for the massive Chinese wedding with 100 couples. This should not be allowed the second time. What this UNP Minister and his henchmen think? People are not idiots. China is a wealthy country. If couples want they can afford for their wedding in Sri Lanka. Tourism should be promoted to draw foreign currency to the country not the other way. Under every UNP regime, the wealthy and the politicians line their pockets with tax payers’ money.
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Steve / May 19, 2018
Champa.
China is a wealthy country, which does not mean each and every Chinese is rich. The Wedding event is to promote Sri Lanka as a tourism destination, which is good, provided it is free of corruption. You say ” Under every UNP regime, the wealthy and the politicians line their pockets with tax payers’ money”. You must change your statement to “Under every political regime”.
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Champa / May 19, 2018
Steve
Really? How many Chinese couples wedded in Sri Lanka after the mass-Chinese wedding? Show me the statistics. When compared to the colossal amount spent on promoting Sri Lanka a wedding destination for Chinese, I expect at least 1000 Chinese couples should have booked their wedding to take place here. Can you confirm?
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Dhanasena / May 20, 2018
This mass wedding circus was orchestrated by the corrupt Rodrigo brothers to make money. These two must be sent to jail.
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Steve / May 19, 2018
These corruption scandals at the highest levels will do more harm to Sri Lanka’s tourism image than the Mirissa incidents.
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shankar / May 19, 2018
sack john amaratunge and reinstate nanayakkara.Neither will happen.ranil is not a mahathir who at 92 will do a much better job than ranil because he has balls and is honest.
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Champa / May 19, 2018
shankar
Ranil is honest? If so, why Arjuna Mahendran is still at large? I heard that he swapped Udayanga with Mahendran. :D :D :D :D (subject to correction)
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Thondamany / May 19, 2018
By the time Rani decide to sack and re-appoint, he will be turning 92.
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shankar / May 20, 2018
thonda
imagine ranil as the leader of the UNP at 92.That man is such a clinger that i woudn’t put it past him.Everything goes off him like water off a ducks back.If you put him on a greasy pole you will find him still there next day morning.
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Jim softy / May 19, 2018
The ministry responsible for this Tourism. John amaratunga. NEWs reports said recently he gave an advertisement contract to american CNN for US$ 675,000 when Sri lanka does not get manh american tourist as they go mostly to Europe and to LAtin america. Im this case too. The man involved is John Amaratunga’s Secretary. Maitripala Sirisena is silent and Ranil i s no where to find.
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Jim softy / May 19, 2018
IS there a CID branch for commercial Frauds. IT should be investigated by country’s law enforcement or ORaganization like CID. why Ranil’s office is investigating. HOW can we say that it is going to be a fiar investigation. Why Maithripala or the cabinet is silent because all in the same boat.
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Jim softy / May 19, 2018
If Maithripala Is not touching the Ranil’s work, IF Ranil is lost inthe wilderness, there is a cabinet. There are 114 ministers. Why they can not let the law enforcement take over it instead of Ranil. Ministers say they just come to the parliament and go and they do not have offices and tables. But, they are paid higher salries, perks and all the benfits. IF the PM is drunk and lost some where, why the cabinet or the 114 ministers can not take decisions.
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punchinilame / May 20, 2018
In respect of tainted deals involving Advisors of any Ministry, they should be terminated promptly, allowing them to seek redress from The Prime Ministers
Office within one month of such determination. This will an exemplary GG rule
for the future and must be put into effect forthwith. When Politicians are out and
out to rob, Advisors follow by initiating unsolicited ideas towards these acts.
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K.Pillai / May 20, 2018
The “New-Terrorism (NT)” has taken roots. (NT is realm in which corruption/nepotism/impunity are legitimate). Felix Srimal Rodrigo (Advisor to Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga) ordered (What? The usual thingy) Udaya Nanayakkara, who refused to carry it out for which he was sacked. The NT settlement is, next time Felix’s brother Harindra may issue orders too.
The Chinese couples lived happily ever after.
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shankar / May 20, 2018
thonda
imagine ranil as the leader of the UNP at 92.That man is such a clinger that i woudn’t put it past him.Everything goes off him like water off a ducks back.If you put him on a greasy pole you will find him still there next day morning.
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shankar / May 20, 2018
pillai
“The Chinese couples lived happily ever after.”
with only one child?
Imagine the joy of bisomenike and gonthirala with unlimited children.
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shankar / May 20, 2018
native
sacking a man who stopped a illegitimate payment.Also for allowing a illegitimate payment to be forwarded to the finance dept.
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Nihal Gunasekera / May 22, 2018
Junket Johnnie is a freeloader. If he was born a woman, he’d have been a prostitute. The son-in-law Werakkody is supposed to be a banker and chairman of HNB Bank. Wonder if our money is safe in that institution? PM had a good opportunity to get rid of this embarrassment of a minister but has no balls to do so. Disgusting.
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